What is it like for a young person to take on responsibility for a family member who needs care? The short film “Im Sturm” brings home the often unseen reality faced by young family carers in a powerful way. The film was created by three students on the MultiMediaArt degree programme at Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. “Im Sturm” premiered in Alpbach on 2 September.
Around 43,000 children and young people in Austria regularly take on responsibility for relatives in need of care. As so-called ‘young carers’, they look after parents, siblings or other family members, often shouldering a burden that is barely visible to outsiders. The short film ‘Im Sturm’ aims to highlight this reality and raise awareness of the situation faced by young carers.
Produced by university of applied sciences students
The film was produced in collaboration with the care support app ‘Alles Clara’. The MultiMediaArt students Elias Engelhardt, Patrick Mercelat and Maximilian Pfeiffer were responsible for the creative production.
The film intertwines external and internal reality: a gathering storm serves as a metaphor for the emotional strain that young carers may face. In this way, the short film not only conveys information but also allows viewers to experience the emotional world of those affected in a direct, audiovisual manner.
‘Im Sturm’ premiered on 2 September in Alpbach. The film was screened both as part of a discussion at the European Forum Alpbach and later that evening at a public event in the fire station. Among those present at the screening and subsequent discussion was Anna Schwabegger, Chair of the Federal Youth Council.