Beauty Mark

In a society where "celebutantes" like Paris Hilton dominate newsstands and models who weigh less than 90 pounds die from malnutrition, female body image is one of the more dire problems facing today's society. "America the Beautiful" illuminates the issue by covering every base. Child models, plastic surgery, celebrity worship, airbrushed advertising, dangerous cosmetics - no rock is left unturned.

This is a Dutch documentary about the last weeks of life in a Portuguese clinic for Emma Caris, a 18 year old girl who had been suffering anorexia nervosa since she was 16 years old.

What does it feel like to have a panic attack? In this animated short from our Arts x Radio collaboration, Vancouver-based filmmaker and illustrator Karla Monterrosa animates a clip from CBC Radio'sCampus to imagine what it's like inside an 18-year-old's mind and body during her first attack.

At sixteen years old Peter Czerwinski was hospitalized and nearly died as a result of anorexia. Seven years later, not only has he won that battle, he is one the greatest competitive eaters in the world. This is the inspiring (and ironic story) of Furious Pete.

A mother fed up with her spoiled daughter goes on a world wide search to figure out what mistakes have been made and how she can fix them.

No Numbers is a documentary that looks at the general sense of "dis-ease" in our society and the increasing normalcy of hating ourselves. Three women speak out, sharing their stories of recovery from anorexia and bulimia. In telling their stories through the creative medium of film they rediscover values in life that move beyond inches, weight, and other measures that society too often champions as benchmarks for success. Though the issues raised in No Numbers stem from individual stories, they are inescapably connected to society and thus to the community as a whole. No Numbers focuses on healing that recognizes community and creativity as integral players in recovery. Finding identity beyond measures isn't just about recovery from eating disorders, it's about re-discovering the fullness of our lives.

The animated documentary shows a day in life of a person suffering a mental illness called anorexia nervosa. It is an intimate insight into the mind of an anorexic, who must somehow interact with raw reality.

A retired bodybuilder confronts the quiet collapse that follows the spotlight.

Cheryl Nasso struggled with anorexia for five years. At her worst, she weighed 85 pounds, was hospitalized, and went through 4 months of rehab. Just two years later Cheryl was one of only 50 women competing in the 2011 Reebok CrossFit Games, an international competition involving the fittest and strongest athletes in the world. Box of Salvation follows Cheryl as she trains for the competition while telling her story of adversity, loss and overcoming the worst to become one of the best.

Documentary exploring body dysmorphic disorder, a condition which causes people to believe they are extremely ugly. The film follows 29-year-old Liane and her boyfriend Mitch over a year as Liane starts therapy to try and conquer this crippling condition. Each week Liane meets Professor David Veale, one of the world's leading experts on BDD, who attempts to undo some of her deeply entrenched habits, often leading to uncomfortable and revealing realisations. The documentary also hears from a range of people who are in recovery from BDD talking movingly about their own personal experiences helps illuminate Liane's journey and reveals more about this illness.