A FILM festival will highlight the impact of the University of Essex's research on the shaping of Colchester.

The films form part of the annual ESRC Festival of Social Science, a national celebration of research and knowledge about humans and society which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2022.

The festival events are an opportunity to explore topics relating to social science – from health and wellbeing to crime, equality, education, and identity.

This year, the film festival includes a range of films based around the theme of 'my local area'.

Film highlights include an insight into how young people in the East of England experienced the Covid-19 pandemic, made by award-winning filmmaker Nic Blower; an in-depth look at how research has helping reshape Colchester town centre; and a look at how social science and local councils have come together to reduce the use of single-use plastic.

Other films showcase what it is like living under state surveillance in the United Kingdom, and how research has fostered cohesion in troubled communities.

Professor John Preston, Dean of Research for the Faculty of Social Sciences at Essex, said: “This year, our film festival highlights the richness and real-world impact of our social science research.

“The films will show how we can learn together as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, as we tackle the climate and ecological emergency, and as we support each other through the cost-of-living crisis."