Sane Cinema Founder Louise Højgaard Johansen & Producer Christine Günther Talk Mental Health In Film & TV Sectors: “All Change Starts With Ourselves” — Karlovy Vary

Mental health in the film and television sectors is, say experts Louise Højgaard Johansen and Christine Günther, a subject that isn’t talked about enough in the industry.

Speaking at an industry panel during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festval dubbed International Industry Insights, Johansen, a Danish festival programer and film industry consultant asked German producer and production manager Günther about best practices when it comes to protecting one’s mental heath and wellbeing in this fast-paced industry. 

“I think all change starts with ourselves,” said Günther.  “We have to develop practices that feel sane and safe for us and we have to ask ourselves in what industry and what world do we want to live? And then we look for allies and then we build alliances and then we execute that brave new world, and we all have the power to do it.” 

Günther is the co-founder of transatlantic outfit Fireglory Pictures, which operates in Berlin and Los Angeles while Johansen established Sane Cinema in 2022, which advocates for mental health in the film industry through awareness, training and education. 

Günther added: “And also my recommendation to everyone in a management position or everyone overall working in this industry is to find personal practices to deal with the rollercoaster of fear and hope that our industry is. 

“I think if you have those skills or those tools that allow you to sit on this rollercoaster, it’s your choice if you’re going on the wooden, hundred years old Coney Island coaster that gives you a concussion and a slipped disc or if you ride the Universal coaster that is well-padded and that is going to be thrilling and adventurous but you’ll survive.”

Check out the video above.