The Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab for the Promotion of Mental Health via Cinematic Arts fosters meaningful conversations about mental health and the media arts. We do this by hosting public events and supporting student filmmakers as they create diverse, original projects that explore mental health through innovative storytelling.

For decades, portrayals of mental illness in film and other forms of media have contributed to stigma surrounding people living with mental health conditions. While the entertainment industry has made important progress toward more accurate and nuanced representation, misleading and oversimplified portrayals continue to spread widely across digital platforms, including social media. At a time when approximately one in four U.S. adults experiences a mental health condition, informed, empathetic storytelling is more important than ever.

The Studio Lab responds to this need by reshaping stigmatizing narratives, empowering emerging filmmakers to create nuanced and informed stories, and fostering meaningful dialogue among filmmakers, mental health professionals, and the public. Through these efforts, the Studio Lab advances new approaches to cinematic storytelling that promote understanding, reduce stigma, and strengthen connections between the arts and mental health.