Birmingham date set for premiere of international mental health movie

The Birmingham premiere for a film tackling suicide and mental health issues is to be held at the Electric Cinema next week.

Released this week, The Valley will be screened at the city centre venue on Monday 12 March, ahead of a dedicated Q&A session on mental health struggles with prominent local guests.

The Valley is written and directed by the award-winning Saila Kariat

Written and directed by the award-winning Saila Kariat, The Valley is a 2017 American drama starring Alyy Khan, Suchitra Pillai, Jake T. Austin and Salma Khan.

The movie follows a distraught father as he searches for answers after his daughter’s suicide, exploring the extent negative mental health can affect the individual and also those around them.

Pakistani-British actor Alyy Khan plays a distraught father searching for answers after his daughter's suicide — Pakistani-British actor Alyy Khan plays a distraught father searching for answers after his daughter’s suicide

Agneeta Thacker plays Maya in The Valley

Highlighting the journey of one family’s struggle to survive amidst a culture in which relationships and human connection are almost impossible to maintain, the story focuses on Indian American entrepreneur Neal Kumar, his wife Roopa and his daughters Monica and Maya who reside in the high octane, technologically driven culture that is Silicon Valley.

His ambitions, affluent life appears idyllic from the exterior, however, when his daughter Maya tragically commits suicide, the fractured nature of his interior life becomes apparent to himself and those around him.

The Valley follows the journey of one family, exploring themes of suicide and mental health

The promotional poster for film The Valley

Designed as a suicide deterrence film, the feature “encompasses the tragedy that is suicide and the endless ripple effect the initial catastrophe leaves behind.”

Director Kariat, who has previously written and directed several short films and feature length screenplays, offers The Valley as her first directorial debut, sharing an overview of the hard-hitting but important subject matter, aiming to raise awareness of mental health issues.

The 95-minute film also stars Samina Peerzada, Barry Corbin, Christa B. Allen and Agneeta Thacker; and boasts a diverse cast from India, Pakistan, New York and Los Angeles.

Guests joining a Q&A panel following the film include (L-R) Mandy Sanghera, Andrew Stylianou and Joshua Williams — Guests joining a Q&A panel following the film include (L-R) Andrew Stylianou, Mandy Sanghera and Joshua Williams

Following the screening, distributor Film Volt will be hosting a special Q&A session with mental health awareness advocates sharing advice to anyone suffering with feelings of hopelessness, despair or depression; including family or friends worried about a loved one and unsure of how to approach the struggle.

Panellists will include philanthropist and human rights activist Mandy Sanghera, former Mr Birmingham and student activist Joshua Williams, and current Mr Birmingham Andrew Stelly.