Films & Documentaries
Stories have the power to move us, challenge our perspectives, and ignite change. At Innergiving, we share impactful films and documentaries that explore themes of mental health, human resilience, philanthropy, and the deeper connections that bind us all. These visual narratives serve as more than just entertainment—they inspire action, foster empathy, and illuminate the power of giving in all its forms. Whether sharing the journeys of change-makers, uncovering the science of well-being, or highlighting the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit, our collection offers a window into the transformative power of generosity and self-discovery. Sorted in alphabetical order.
Angst | Watch Trailer | Watch Film & Creative Coping Toolkit (with valid library card) ➤ Angst shows us that some anxiety is normal - and helps people recognize when it becomes too much. With real stories and expert insights, Angst gives practical tools for understanding, managing, and talking about anxiety.
Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety” is an IndieFlix–distributed documentary crafted to spark open dialogue about anxiety—especially among youth and families. Through candid interviews with kids, teens, parents, educators, and mental‑health professionals, including a powerful segment with Olympic champion Michael Phelps, the film explores both the causes and the real-world impact of anxiety, as well as practical coping tools and messages of hope. Designed for schools, communities, and corporations, this 56‑minute program is part of IndieFlix’s education series and comes with guides and discussion materials to foster resilience, connection, and mental wellness.
Filmmakers: Scilla Andreen
Anxious Nation | Watch Trailer ➤ Our mission is to create a unified community for people struggling with anxiety that encourages open dialogue and the sharing of coping strategies. By shining a light on this often-hidden issue, we seek to create a more compassionate and understanding society that supports those grappling with anxiety.
“Anxious Nation” is a poignant, feature-length documentary (1h 41m) co-directed by Laura Morton and Academy Award–winner Vanessa Roth that explores the deepening crisis of anxiety across the U.S., particularly among youth aged 10–26 and their families . The film delves into how anxiety manifests—panic attacks, chronic worry, isolation—and examines contributing factors like social media pressures, systemic inequities in Black and Brown communities, misdiagnosis, and the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Featuring raw, emotional footage—such as a family documenting a teenager’s breathing struggle during an anxiety episode—the documentary shines light on the often unseen impact of parental anxiety and cycles of emotional stress.
Alongside candid interviews with youth, therapists, and experts like Dr. Harold Koplewicz and Dr. Lynn Lyons, it offers practical coping strategies like breathing techniques, grounding exercises, therapy, and community support.
Ultimately, Anxious Nation serves as both wake-up call and hopeful guide, urging viewers to destigmatize mental health, strengthen conversations, and “harness anxious energy for good.”
Filmmakers: Vanessa Roth, Laura Morton, Kathy Ireland
Connecting the Dots | Watch Trailer ➤ Connecting the Dots is the first feature documentary of its kind to offer a raw and intimate look at youth mental health from a global perspective.
“Connecting the Dots” is a 54‑minute feature documentary directed by Noemí Weis that offers a raw, intimate, and global perspective on youth mental health. Through cinematic visual diaries and personal interviews—from Toronto and New York to Harare and Australia—it foregrounds the lived experiences of young people grappling with anxiety, depression, systemic racism, cyberbullying, and identity struggles. Interwoven with youthful resilience and reflective voices, the film delivers a hopeful, action‑oriented message: it's time for society to truly listen, break stigma, foster open dialogue, and amplify youth voices in shaping change. It’s both an emotional and empowering call to support the mental well‑being of the next generation.
Filmmaker: Noemi Weis
Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness | Watch Trailer ➤ The film presents an unvarnished window into daily life with mental health challenges, from seemingly insurmountable obstacles to stories of hope and resilience.
“Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness” is a compelling, two-part, four-hour documentary presented by Ken Burns and directed by Erik and Christopher Loren Ewers. It offers an unfiltered look into the silent epidemic of mental health struggles among American youth—ages 11 to 27—through the intimate stories of over 20 young people facing depression, addiction, anxiety, suicide ideation, and more. Featuring candid interviews with teens, their families, educators, therapists, and mental-health experts, the film explores how stigma, trauma, and systemic pressures exacerbate suffering yet highlights resilience, hope, and the transformative power of open conversation. As part of the “Well Beings” public-media initiative, it champions community engagement and curriculum integration to shift public perception and encourage early support for youth in crisis
Filmmakers: Erik Ewers, Chistopher Loren Ewers
Wisdom of Trauma | Watch Trailer ➤ Trauma is the invisible force that shapes our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we love and the way we make sense of the world. It is the root of our deepest wounds. Dr. Maté gives us a new vision: a trauma-informed society in which parents, teachers, physicians, policy-makers and legal personnel are not concerned with fixing behaviors, making diagnoses, suppressing symptoms and judging, but seek instead to understand the sources from which troubling behaviors and diseases spring in the wounded human soul.
“The Wisdom of Trauma” is a powerful, eye-opening documentary featuring Canadian physician and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté, who explores how hidden and unresolved trauma drives the rise of mental illness, addiction, chronic disease, and societal dysfunction in Western culture . Traveling from Vancouver’s streets to San Francisco prison yards—and even into psychedelic healing sessions—Maté and filmmakers Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo weave together expert insights, personal testimonies, and compelling narratives to reveal trauma as an invisible force that shapes how we live, relate, and interpret the world.
The film doesn’t just diagnose the problem—it offers a hopeful blueprint for change. It champions a trauma-informed society where educators, physicians, policymakers, and communities shift from judgment to empathy, striving to understand the roots of suffering rather than merely treating its symptoms.
Lauded as “raw, hopeful, and tender,” the documentary has resonated globally—garnering millions of views—and sparked conversations on healing, self-compassion, and collective responsibility
Filmmakers: Zaya Benazzo, Maurizio Benazzo, Caroline Campbell
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