Brain Film Fest winners at Parc Sanitari

posted 18 March 2026

I Swear, a feature film starring a young man with Tourette syndrome, was the big winner at the festival, taking home two awards: the Best Feature Film Award and the Audience Award

Trece gatos (Thirteen Cats) directed by David Gaspar was named Best Short Film

Both productions will be shown on Friday, 20 March at Dr Antoni Pujadas Auditorium in Sant Boi as part of a programme which includes a morning session of short films and screenings of feature films in the afternoon. Book your free ticket

This Friday, 20 March, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu is to host a screening of the two winning films from the latest Brain Film Fest: the feature film I Swear, which took home the 16th Solé Tura Award for Best Film at the festival and also picked up the Audience Award, and the short film Trece gatos, which was named Best Short Film. The initiative is part of the festival’s touring programme and includes screenings, discussions and short films made with the involvement of people receiving care at the Parc and its staff.

I Swear: a story of resilience and activism which wins over jury and audience alike

The film I Swear, inspired by the true story of John Davidson, describes the journey of a young man with Tourette syndrome who turns stigma and misunderstanding into a driving force for activism. Tapping an emotional narrative laced with humour, the film celebrates the strength of community and the importance of empathy in mental health.

The movie, starring Robert Aramayo who recently picked up a BAFTA award , will be shown at 5.30 pm in the Dr Antoni Pujadas Auditorium. The screening will be followed by a discussion moderated by the Brain Film Fest team featuring Carlos Peña, a neurologist and psychiatrist at Parc Sanitari SJD, Ramon Pujades, chair of the Catalan Tourette Association, and a personal account from someone with first-hand experience.

Trece gatos: best short film of the festival

The short film Trece gatos directed by David Gaspar tells the story of Laura, a woman who adopts a cat whenever her life gets complicated. What starts out as a means of emotional escape turns into an unexpected gateway to self-discovery after she decides to stop off and see a therapist on her way to the animal shelter.

The piece will be screened during the morning short film session, which will also include Pero hoy es martes (But Today's Tuesday), Marcharse (To Let Go) and two productions crafted at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu: Juzgadas por la ignorancia (Judged from Ignorance) and Cinc dies per trencar murs (Five Days to Break Down Walls).

Productions created by staff and service users at the Parc

The short Juzgadas desde la ignorancia, starring Parc Sanitari SJD Mental Health Network users, is the outcome of a creative process driven by the Cornellà Community Rehabilitation Service (SRC), the Càmeres i Acció group and the Torrents d’Art programme. It takes an intimate look at identity, stigma and gender discrimination in mental health.

The participants and the creative team will take part in a discussion with the audience after the screening.

Meanwhile, the documentary Cinc dies per trencar murs directed by David Fontseca explores the creative process behind the Five Days to Dance project at the Brians 1 Prison Psychiatric Hospital Unit. It showcases how art can fashion spaces for expression, emotional healing and social cohesion in highly vulnerable settings.

An afternoon looking at autism

The afternoon programme will kick off at 3 pm with the screening of Her Difference by Lola Doillin, which tracks the self-discovery journey of a 35-year-old reporter who learns she has ASD while working on a documentary.

After the film, there will be a discussion moderated by Joanjo Esteban, director of Can Castells Art Centre, featuring psychiatrist Carlota Romans and Natàlia Bel, who will share their personal experience.