Connect at the movies this World Mental Health Day

Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland

MEDIA RELEASE 1 OCTOBER 2025

LIFELINE SYDNEY & SUTHERLAND PARTNERS WITH 
INDEPENDENT CINEMAS TO INVITE AUSTRALIANS TO 
CONNECT AT THE MOVIES ON MENTAL HEALTH DAY 
FRIDAY OCTOBER 10 TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CRISIS SUPPORT

This Mental Health Day (Friday 10 October), Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland and the Mark Sarfaty Cinema & Performing Arts Benevolent Fund are inviting local communities to Connect at the Movies to raise funds for crisis support. 
 
The Fund has partnered with Lifeline for Mental Health Day, Friday October 10, to encourage exhibitors and the public to donate to help fund the crisis support work of Lifeline and the Mark Sarfaty Cinema & Performing Arts Benevolent Fund.
 “We are delighted to be partnering with Lifeline for this campaign,” said Adrianne Pecotic, Chair of the Mark Sarfaty Cinema & Performing Arts Benevolent Fund. “Mental health support and suicide prevention are critical issues for Australians – losing nine people per day to suicide -including many in our own industry. Encouraging your community to connect with friends, family and feelings at the cinema is a great way to promote good mental health and help fund crisis support services. We are very grateful that in addition to donations from the public, a portion of every ticket sold at participating independent cinemas on National Mental Health Day will be donated to local Lifeline centres and to the Fund.”
Luchia Noyes, Partnership Lead, Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland welcomed the partnership saying “ We are pleased to be leading this campaign for Lifeline centres around Australia. This initiative keeps mental health support close to home – ensuring that funds raised directly benefit the local communities where they’re needed most, while also helping those within the cinema industry who may be facing hardship.”
Representing the more than 35 participating independent cinema members of Independent Cinemas Australia, Scott Seddon President of ICA and owner of Scottys Cinemas Raymond Terrace said “Independent cinemas are the heart of their communities and places where you go to de-stress on the weekend and in the school holidays. Local cinema owners know how important connecting with others and with support services can be at a time of crisis.”
Benji Tamir, owner of participating cinema the Randwick Ritz said “We are so happy to participate in this campaign on Mental Health Day and show support for anyone experiencing emotional distress or mental illness. Lifeline’s local community services, call centres and online support are so important especially when distressing times and mental illness can strike anyone at any time.”

Find and book your nearest participating independent cinema HERE
Donate to the Lifeline Connect at The Movies Campaign HERE

If you, or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to connect with Lifeline in the way you feel most comfortable.
You can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114, chat to Lifeline online or access the Support Toolkit to self-manage what you’re going through at toolkit.lifeline.org.au
ABOUT the Mark Sarfaty Cinema & Performing Arts Benevolent Fund. The Mark Sarfaty Cinema and Performing Arts Benevolent Fund, established in memory of the Independent Cinemas Association’s inaugural CEO, was initiated by Mark’s industry colleagues following his death in 2011. The fund was established as a charitable trust managed by ICA Charities Limited [ABN31163326690] with Deductible Gift Recipient Status in April 2014.The Fund’s principal object is to raise money to provide direct financial assistance to disadvantaged persons and their families in the Australian cinema and performing arts community, and special needs grants.