Charity founders launch 'Beyond the Mask' film during Covid-19 pandemic

“One of the things everyone is worried about is what is the bereavement epidemic going to look like after this’. Dr Kathryn Mannix

BEYOND THE MASK (60 mins) – The Good Grief Project launches a new film exploring approaches to grief during the Covid pandemic.

On Line Premiere: Thursday 25th March 7-9pm GMT #Beyondthemaskfilm

The COVID-19 crisis has prompted us all to think a bit more about death and what it means for us and our loved ones. It has also provided an unparalleled opportunity to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the national agenda.

Following on from their highly acclaimed film ‘A Love that Never Dies’, The Good Grief Project charity is proud to present their new film ‘Beyond the Mask’, a thought-provoking documentary that examines the lived experience of grief during the pandemic.

Produced by acclaimed filmmakers, Jimmy Edmonds and Jane Harris and made entirely during the pandemic, BEYOND THE MASK premieres on the anniversary of the UK being plunged into a first national lockdown. It will be launched with a special free online screening hosted by the Death Positive Libraries Project and co-presented with acclaimed author and campaigner Dr Kathryn Mannix, on 25th March at 7.00pm.

Director, Jane Harris says 'Grief in these times has thrown up new challenges for us,” and ‘Beyond The Mask’ invites us to “re-evaluate what is important in our lives.'

She continues, 'So many people feel unheard and isolated and need to be free to speak about their experiences and we want to help share them.'

It is estimated that 2.5 million lives have been lost to the pandemic worldwide. For each life lost, between 5 and 9 others are affected in a significant way. This means there are potentially 22 million bereaved individuals who have been catapulted into grief at the hand of the Coronavirus, many of whom will suffer poor mental health having been robbed of opportunities to properly say goodbye to their loved ones. And, there are echoes of Harris and Edmonds’ personal trauma – their son Josh died suddenly, a long way from home – they too never got to say goodbye.

Jane Harris is also a psychotherapist and invites intimate reflections from the participants despite the fact that all her conversations are conducted remotely.

Appearing in the film Palliative Care Consultant turned author and campaigner, Dr Kathryn Mannix :

'One of the things everyone is worried about is what is the bereavement epidemic going to look like after this’.

Dr Mannix will share the platform with Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds for the Question & Answer panel following the screening.

The film also looks at the toll lockdown is having on people with life-limiting illnesses and features disability campaigner Lucy Watts MBE (27) who is terrified she will be refused treatment should she be admitted to hospital. Watts comments:

'Covid has brought out the worst in all of this – we are making judgements based on resources and on who’s the fittest. I very much worry that there will be a judgement my life is not worth living'

Beyond The Mask explores many aspects that both grief and the pandemic share – isolation, mask wearing, the sense of time stopping, the loss of confidence, the challenge to one’s sense of self, the damage to mental health and of course the various ways we are having to adjust to our “new normal”.

THE GOOD GRIEF PROJECT is partnering with DEATH POSITIVE LIBRARIES to screen BEYOND THE MASK online on Thursday 25th March 2021 – 19.00 – 21-00 GMT

TICKETS are free and available here: BOOK HERE

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Dr. Kathryn Mannix (Palliative Care consultant and author – With the End in Mind)

Jimmy Edmonds is a British film editor who has cut a number of award winning documentaries including CHOSEN (Brian Woods/Truevison C4) which won the BAFTA for Best Single Documentary in 2009, DEATH ON THE MOUNTAIN - The Story of Tom Simpson (BBC) which won the RTS Best Sports Documentary 2005 and INSIDE CLARIDGES (Jane Treays/The Garden C4) which won the Broadcasting Press Guild Best Documentary Series 2013. Since starting his career as an assistant in 1988 Jimmy has now edited over 100 titles for broadcasters in the UK and worldwide. In 2006 he directed his own film BREAKING THE SILENCE for BBC OneLife, an account of the effect on his family of years of silence around the sexual abuse they suffered at their boarding school and church. He is now co director of BEYOND GOODBYE MEDIA producing films for the charity sector including A LOVE THAT NEVER DIES. He is a Winston Churchill Fellow.

Jane Harris is a psychotherapist, filmmaker and public speaker. In the early 1980s, she studied film and worked in promoting films made by women until she started her training as a psychotherapist in 1988. They also produce films for the charity sector, including Gerry’s Legacy (for Alzheimer’s Society, 2013) and Say Their Name for The Compassionate Friends, 2014. Alongside her husband and fellow filmmaker, Jimmy Edmonds, Jane co-founded and runs The Good Grief Project created to share their experience of grief and to help others to find an active and creative response to the expression of their grief through photography, film, creative writing and their Active Grief Retreats. In 2018 they co-directed the award winning feature documentary A Love That Never Dies.

Steve Cooke and Russell Taylor have been producing music for television and radio for over 20 years. They have composed for over 40 documentaries that include the multi award winning THE DYING ROOMS (for C4 - RTS, PRIX ITALIA 1995), ORPHANS OF NKANDLA (for BBC - BAFTA 2004), A WORLD WITHOUT WATER (for C4 - GRIERSON 2006), CHINA’S STOLEN CHILDREN (for C4 - BAFTA and RTS 2007) and CHOSEN (for C4 - BAFTA 2009).

Tickets are available here: BOOK HERE

For further information/interviews for Beyond the Mask please contact:

OTHER FILMS BY THE GOOD GRIEF PROJECT