The Brain Film Fest, a film festival about the brain promoted by the Foundation, which will celebrate its eighth edition from 12 to 16 March at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), will recognise at its opening ceremony the trilogy by French director Nicolas Philibert with the Brain Film Fest 2025 Special Award.

The international competition, co-organised by Minimal Films, will screen a retrospective of his trilogy, which includes The Typewriter and Other Headaches (La machine à écrire et other sources de tracas), the opening film of this edition; On the Adamant (On Adamant, 2023), winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlinale; and Averroès and Rosa Parks (2024). Philibert offers a deeply humanistic view of mental illness through these works, highlighting the respectful and collaborative relationship between patients and caregivers.

“His gaze is respectfully illuminating,” say the festival’s directors, Cristina Maragall, the President of the Foundation, and filmmaker Albert Solé. In addition to receiving the Honorary Award, Philibert will take part in discussions with the public following the screening of his films at the festival.

The Typewriter and Other Headaches, opening film of the Brain Film Fest 2025

The documentary filmmaker portrays the testimony of a home care brigade that accompanies people with mental illnesses in their daily lives, helping them with such everyday problems as repairing a typewriter or a household appliance. The film shows a model of psychiatric care based on respect and mutual understanding.

Considered one of the great European documentary filmmakers, Philibert has received more than a hundred international awards and his work has been the subject of numerous retrospectives. Films such as Return to Normandy (Return to Normandy, 2006), Nénette (2010) or The House of Radio (2013) have consolidated their prestigious career.