SARFF: Almost Holy

2016 is The South African Recovery Film Festival’s 4th year, and they are delighted to continue presenting documentary and feature films that explore themes of addiction and mental health issues in association with their main sponsors, the South African College Of Applied Psychology.

SARFF aims to educate and inform, to create debate and discussion – and to promote the solutions and successes of Recovery from the debilitating problems of addiction. They also hope to entertain and provide a safe space for people from all parts of the Recovery community to come together. The Festival aims to challenge the stigma and shame that surround addiction, alcoholism and mental health issues. They believe that stigma often drives ignorance of the conditions and makes access to help difficult, providing no space to celebrate the solutions. 

SARFF will be donating R5 of each ticket sold to the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre. 

Almost Holy

Directed by: Steve Hoover

(Ukraine/USA 2016 1hr 40m)

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine’s social institutions crumbled under corrupt governments and a decaying infrastruc- ture. Many of the nation’s youth succumbed to drug addiction and alcoholism while losing their homes. Ukranian pastor Gennadiy Mokhnenko took matters into his own hands, forcibly remov- ing children from the streets or unsuitable homes and taking them to his rehab and housing facility, Pilgrim Republic.