"This is where we meet" – A ClowNexus documentary

"This is where we meet," a compelling documentary by Berta Tilmantaite and Mindaugas Drigotas from Nara film, in collaboration with RED NOSES International, has garnered critical acclaim and awards for its heartfelt portrayal of the transformative power of healthcare clowning. Now available to stream on YouTube, the film captures the profound connections forged through humour and art.

About the documentary

In 2019, at the annual meeting of the European Federation of Healthcare Clowning Organisations, eight healthcare clowning organizations united with a shared vision: to explore how creativity and humour could connect with two unique audiences—children with autism and people with dementia. This vision gave birth to the ClownNexus project, a three-year journey (2020–2023) that delved into the transformative power of healthcare clowning. The project culminated in the creation of a film documentary, “This is where we meet.” 

Directed by Berta Tilmantaite and Mindaugas Drigotas in collaboration with RED NOSES International, the documentary explores how healthcare clowning connects people through art and humour, sparking moments of joy and fulfilment for both artists and audiences. It portrays a variety of magical encounters that occur when people come together through the art of clowning.

In 2024, the film received critical acclaim, winning Best Direction and the Audience Award at the Wildsound FEEDBACK Film and Screenplay Festival, the Best Documentary Award at the NewBorn Short Film and earning a nomination for Best Documentary at the 3in1 Film Festival in Portugal. It was also selected for the prestigious Jagran Film Festival 2024.

The film has been celebrated at film festivals, including:

• Agrinio Short Film Festival 
• WILDsound FEEDBACK Film and Screenplay Festival 
• Kalakari Film Festival 
• 11th International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra & Awards 
• First-Time Filmmaker Sessions 
• Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions 
• West Side Mountains Doc Fest 
• Cuzco Underground Cinema Festival 
• NewBorn Short Film Festival 
• 3in1 Film Fest 

Why healthcare clowning?

Humour is a powerful tool for connecting with people who might experience feelings of social isolation. Our participatory interventions, developed and implemented during this project, aim to foster creative self-expression and social connection, positively impacting emotional well-being. We developed these artistic approaches collaboratively, involving international artists, artists from different fields, participants, caregivers, and experts in dementia and autism. 

Working alongside family members, caregivers, social experts, and artists from various disciplines, clown artists sought innovative and tailored approaches for engaging with children with autism and individuals with dementia. 

Through our ClownNexus project, we've found that both individuals with dementia and children with autism can find joy in art. It stimulates their senses, allows for non-verbal self-expression, provides a balance of structure and freedom, and evokes and shares emotions. Art and humour serve as universal mediums for connection and communication.

What is healthcare clowning?

But what exactly ishealthcare clowning? Healthcare clowning is the art of using clowning techniques in health and care settings to improve the wellbeing of people facing vulnerable situations and foster more supportive environments. It involves trained clowns who connect with people in a non-judgmental, humorous, and compassionate way, regardless of their backgrounds. Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of healthcare clowning on emotional well-being, resilience and mental health.

Christophe Dumalin, Chief Artistic Director of RED NOSES International, beautifully encapsulates the essence of healthcare clowning: 

“The clown has the power to change things, to change the atmosphere. Through their power of the true encounter, the clown can amaze a nurse, astonish a doctor, put parents in awe, surprise children, teachers, therapists, parents and themselves! The clown can open doors and access deeper layers of the human psyche. Using humour, kindness and full acceptance of the person in front of them, the Clown can communicate with all human beings in an absolutely innocent, non-judgmental way, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic or educational background.”