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 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, and framed by their vision.
Film Screenings
The film was launched at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, North Pembrokeshire, on Sunday 2nd August 2026 in partnership with Screen Alliance Wales and Aberystwyth University. After the screenings, the group of farmers formed a panel discussion and Q&A with the audience, exploring some of the themes and issues that came from the documentary and the participatory filmmaking process.
This was the first of a series of community film screening events, organised in venues across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, with the aim of exploring the complex issues impacting our food and farming system.
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, while striving to make research relevant beyond the sphere of universities;
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).