The role filmmaking plays in dealing with trauma
Eric Christiansen is a seven-time Southwestern Region Emmy Award recipient whose full-length documentary films focus on the impact of trauma on individuals, families and communities. A trauma survivor himself, having lost his home and all his possessions in the Santa Barbara Painted Cave fire disaster, he understands trauma, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of hope in healing.
His films (Faces in the Fire, Homecoming: A Vietnam Vets Journey, Searching for Home: Coming Back from War) have been seen as transformative in the recovery process for people whose lives have been compromised mentally, spiritually and physically by trauma.
Seen as educational tools by top mental health institutions in the USA, his films migrate from the entertainment arena into environments that help additional audiences navigate the profound collateral damage trauma creates.