Ottawa Virtual Screening of The Award Winning Film - The Great Disconnect
Event Information
About this event
We invite you to an impactful event on Wednesday January 27th from 6:45-9pm that will enage citizens on the importance of social connections, neighbourly ties and supporting local - with the goal of strengthening community wellbeing throughout our great city of Ottawa.
Watch the trailer here to get a glimpse: https://vimeo.com/swmedia/tgdisconnect
The event which will occur through Zoom will be followed by a very engaging moderated panel discussion that will include two of the filmmakers and Ottawa residents Tamer Soliman (Director, Producer, Co-writer) and Sarah Douglas (Writer, Story-Editor) as well as the following experts:
Rosaline Hill, an award winning architect, planning consultant and founder of Walkable Ottawa. Learn more about Rosaline here
&
Manjit Basi, a coach, advisor, learning facilitator, self described "shift disturber" and co-founder of Synapcity. Learn more about Manjit here.
The panel will be moderated by:
Monique Fuller, a community organizer, art programmer, radio host of CKCU's A Luta Continua and co-founder of OBAK, a local art collective.
&
Élisabeth Bruins, the Community and Youth Engagement Officer at the The Mauril-Bélanger Social Innovation Workshop.
This event is a launchpad for gaining a greater understanding of how we can make our communities, neighbourhoods and cities happier places to live, work and co-exist. It can also provide an important, timely opportunity to re-engage citizens after a year that saw many people experience social isolation and disconnection.
Virtual doors open at 6:45.
About the Film
The Great Disconnect uncovers why, in a world seemingly more connected than ever before, people are feeling more and more socially isolated – and the true cost this has on our lives and communities. This documentary invites us to reflect on the relationships we have with those around us and raises the question: is it possible to overcome our modern culture of disconnectedness and rediscover how truly essential we are to one other?
Watch the trailer here to get a glimpse: https://vimeo.com/swmedia/tgdisconnect
Since its official launch in October 2019, the film has screened across Canada through multiple municipalities, non-profits and NGOs, and has been shown in ten countries across Europe. It has also been featured in over twelve independent film festivals, and in October 2020, the documentary won the award for Best Feature Film at the prominent Better Cities Film Festival. The judges’ panel included the famous architect Jan Gehl alongside other esteemed architects and urbanists.
Contact us at Tamer@tamersoliman.com for any inquiries or questions.
Event intentions:
- Heighten citizens' awareness of the existence of social isolation, loneliness and disconnection - as well as the impacts it has on our mental and physical health, a growing public health issue.
- Help citizens draw links between city design, technology and hyper-individualism, and how they influence our neighbourhoods and communities.
- Share simple and effective call-to-actions that can help citizens strengthen their social connections, neighbourhoods and communities - not just for their own benefit but for the benefit of our city as a whole.
- Provide the people of Ottawa to connect with one another, in a safe way, and become more collectively engaged citizens!
Based on the initial sponsorship, outreach and the films high production value, we expect a great turnout.
Please make sure you register to reserve your virtual seat!
Website and links related to the film:
Website: www.TheGreatDisconnectFilm.com
Trailer: vimeo.com/swmedia/tgdisconnect
Facebook: facebook.com/TheGreatDisconnectFilm/
Instagram: instagram.com/thegreatdisconnectfilm/
Twitter Account: twitter.com/TamSoliman
In the Media:
- Best Feature Film Press Release at Better Cities Film Festival - Click here
- CBC morning interview with Robyn Bresnahan - Click here
- Oakville News Review of the documentary- Click here
- Marda Loop Justice Film Festival Q&A (Video) - Click here
- Ottawa Canadian Film Festival Q&A - Click here
- Phoenix Journal Q&A - Click here
- Facebook Reviews - Click here
Organizer Tamer Soliman
Organizer of Ottawa Virtual Screening of The Award Winning Film - The Great Disconnect
Before making this film, I had been aware of the concept of community wellbeing, but I never really thought too much about it, and I definitely didn’t think it was a key factor in achieving optimal health. Working as a health and wellness professional for over a decade, I advised my clients that health was defined by two things: what we ate and how much we exercised.
But all of that changed after a trip to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Rob, my good friend and Director of Photography, and I stayed a few nights in a small mountain camp, outfitted with just the basics for simple village life. The purpose of the trip was to learn from the local population about food, nutrition and sustainable living, but what really overwhelmed us was the profound sense of community. Despite lacking (many possessions and material things), the people of this village seemed happy, healthy and connected to one another. This made me wonder – how do people in North America feel about their sense of community and connectedness? And what, if any, effect does this have on our health and overall wellbeing?
These questions inspired me to direct and produce The Great Disconnect. As I met with experts in economic, social and urban design, I discovered how multifaceted this idea of community wellbeing is, and the ill effects that happen as a result of community breakdown. These issues not only impact personal health and wellbeing but the health and wellbeing of communities on a much larger scale. Loneliness and social isolation are being labeled as epidemics - epidemics that may become one of society’s biggest challenges of the 21st century.
Making this film has changed my definition of what it really means to be healthy - physically, emotionally, and socially. My hope is that by watching this film people will reflect on the idea that to be well, we need to find ways to come together. The health of society as a whole depends on it.
Tamer Soliman, Director & Producer
