In this personal and intimate film, writer-director Elizabeth Sankey uses her own story of being admitted to a psychiatric ward after the birth of her son to explore the unexpected yet compelling connections between perinatal mental health and the history and portrayal of witches in western society and pop culture. Using clips of cinematic witches to illustrate her own experience and those of other women, alongside interviews with medical professionals and academics, Sankey concocts a potion that brims with courage, compassion, and healing insight.

The screening (90 minutes) will be followed by a short Q&A about the themes of the documentary with Aisling McCormick and Dr Elspeth Vischer.

Aisling (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator and researcher from Dublin, based in Belfast. An experienced performer, creator and educator, her work as an independent artist encompasses choreography, choral direction, singing, movement and wellbeing. Her more recent choreographic focus has explored themes of maternal identity. In 2025 she completed PhD research exploring the intersection of dance and perinatal health and wellbeing.

Elspeth is a filmmaker, writer and project coordinator based in Belfast. Elspeth runs the production company Vish Films and specialises in non-fiction and experimental work that centres counter-hegemonic perspectives, particularly queer and intersectional feminist frameworks. To date Elspeth has had films screened at international festivals including Docs Ireland. Elspeth completed a Creative Practice PhD at Queen’s University in 2023.