Witches + Q&A

Filmmaker Elizabeth Sankey has always felt a deep connection to witches, to women who don’t quite “fit in”. 

From childhood fascination to finding solace in their stories, this personal journey shapes her documentary.

Blending film scenes from the past century, from Häxan to The Craft to Rosemary’s Baby, with intimate conversations, Sankey explores the link between cinematic witches and real-life experiences of postnatal mental illness.

The result is a powerful, courageous reflection on motherhood, mental health, and the enduring stigmas women have faced for centuries.

Join us for a screening followed by a Q&A with writer and researcher Sabina Stent and one of the films interviewees Emily Hawkerr.

Presented as part of the University of Birmingham's 125th anniversary celebrations, and in partnership with Flatpack Festival, 9-17 May, celebrating film in all shapes and sizes.