PhD researcher, Bethan John, is collaborating with a group of farmers in Ceredigion, West Wales, using participatory creative methods to explore the crisis in farming. By running a series of storytelling and filmmaking workshops, the group was supported to co-create a short documentary on their experience of mental health struggles — the topic they identified as the most significant.
The film was created by the group of farmers from the concept stage of discussing themes to drawing story boards, through to interviewing, filming, and editing. There was no external film crew or editor, no-one else in control of the narrative.
By facilitating a process of creative exploration and collaborative decision-making, with the intention of creating a supportive and non-judgemental space, the purpose was to ensure that the film was truly created by the farmers — a story of their lived experience, told in their words, framed by their vision.
Film Screenings
The film will launch at the Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, North Pembrokeshire, on Sunday 2nd August 2026 in partnership with Screen Alliance Wales in the Sinemaes at 1pm. After the screening, the group of farmers will form a panel discussion and Q&A with the audience, facilitated by Jane Powell — an expert in food systems who freelancers as an editor, facilitator, trainer, speaker and researcher.
This will be the first of a series of community film screening events, organised in venues across South Ceredigion and North Pembrokeshire, with the aim of exploring the complex issues impacting our food and farming system.
The film explores difficult themes, some of which can be polarizing and have created tensions within our rural communities. In this way, the film acts as a provocation and the events invite audience members to step outside of our bubbles and echo chambers, challenging us to find understanding and empathy, even if we disagree.
Project’s Aims
By attending the events, audience members will become active participants within the research project, contributing their own experiences and knowledge that will feed into and influence the research findings. The intention is to create a space to explore and capture our complex, nuanced and often competing views, to value the diversity of our experiences, and honour our community-based knowledge in all its variety.
The project strives to make research relevant beyond the sphere of universities; to challenge the elitist nature of academia by questioning where knowledge is produced, where it is shared, and whose knowledge is valued. The point is not to diminish the role of the researcher or downplay the importance of academic rigour, but instead to value lived experiences, experiential knowledge, and creative practices.
How can I get involved? Dates and venues for the community film screenings will be announced on the Events page soon. If you’d like to be notified by email about the events or your interested in screening the film at your venue, please get in touch with Bethan: bsj3@aber.ac.uk
This project is a collaboration between the Centre for Alternative Technology, Aberystwyth University, Cardiff University, and is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).