Short films
Below is a selection of free short films on the subjects of illness, death and bereavement. These can be useful as discussion prompts and educational tools.
What is dying like?
Dying for Beginners
A short animation by Emily Downe and Kathryn Mannix which guides you gently on a step by step journey through the process of dying.
End of Life Trajectories
Some short films by Edinburgh University that explain the typical experiences of living with the most common progressive illnesses for months or years before dying and how palliative care can help nearly everyone.
Personal reflections on death and dying
20 takes on death and dying
A 10 minute film by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, filmed on the streets of Paisley, Elgin and Inverness, in which ordinary people share personal reflections on death and dying.
At Home with Illness
At Home with Illness is a film project in which three families, whose lives were changed forever when life-limiting illness arrived, share their powerful, emotional stories.
Planning Ahead
Life or Death Decisions
A film from the Open University exploring the importance of planning for the future.
Should everyone have an end of life plan?
A film from BBC Ideas looking at forward planning.
CPR
Heartstopping moments
A TEDx talk by Dr Kathryn Mannix exploring use of CPR in different circumstances.
Care
Who cares for the carer?
A short film by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, following Jack and Dorothy and their experiences of dealing with a neurodegenerative illness at home.
Bereavement
Grief Kind classes
In this series of five short video tutorials, Sue Ryder bereavement experts talk you through what grief is like and how you can support others who are grieving.
The Grief Channel
The Good Grief Festival has brought together numerous films on different aspects of grief on the Grief Channel.
NHS Education for Scotland
NHS Education for Scotland has produced bereavement-related films for health & social care professionals on a range of bereavement-related topics.
Burial & Funerals
The unexpected places we choose to lay our dead to rest
This gentle short animation from the Open University explores different burial practices.
Example funerals
The Scottish Independent Celebrants’ Association (SICA) has produced two films showing staged funerals, as examples of what funerals can look like in Scotland: Iain McKenzie and Alex Murray
