“The Pictures inside my Mind” is a short documentary film focused on Davidson Semedo, a resident at Centro Apoio Social do Pisão, a mental health institution based in Lisbon, Portugal. In his adolescence, Davidson was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a chronic and disabling disease that causes a deterioration at the psychological, social and familial levels. What makes Davidson so interesting to us, however, is that ever since he was a child he has had a passion for films and filmmaking. 

Davidson has a strong love for science fiction and has written multiple scripts and even created two short films with the help of the staff at Pisao. His films feature elaborate plots about fantastical adventures and we intend to follow Davidson behind the scenes whilst he is creating his new film, “The Adventures of Bojar”. We will provide him with the opportunity to work with professional equipment and actors, something which he has not previously had access to. With the help of psychiatrists at the institution, we gain an insight into the realities of living with schizophrenia, how it affects the way he interacts with other people and his day to day challenges. By doing this we aim to help Davidson reach his creative and artistic potential whilst promoting equal opportunities and social inclusion. 

This documentary is about understanding and destigmatising mental illness. We want to show a more realistic image of someone who lives with a mental illness, disproving the misconceptions that they are violent or dangerous, instead, they are a person who, like everyone else, should be allowed to pursue their dreams and goals with dignity.