This film screened on Friday 9th October 2015.

Chaired by Miriam O’Callaghan.

During the middle decades of the 20th century, Ireland led the world in locking up more of its people per capita in psychiatric hospitals. The number was ahead even of the old Soviet Union. Behind the Walls, a two-part documentary series written and produced by Mary Raftery, charts the history of Ireland’s psychiatric hospitals and tells the stories of remarkable individuals who experienced the system first hand.

The screening will be followed by a discussion and audience Q&A chaired by Miriam O’Callaghan with Sheila Ahern (Researcher, Behind the Walls) and Jim Ryan (HSE Mental Health Division).

This event is part of Are You Sitting Comfortably? Documentary Filmmaking: Ethics, Platforms, Challenges on October 9th, 10.30 – 17.30.

Tickets: €5 per event. To avail of a €10 ticket to attend all three events, please contact the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477 or in person. (€10 ticket not available online or via email.)

Behind the Walls courtesy of