UBDPolicy at Brain Film Fest: Noise, Rest, and Health

Date: 11-15 March 2026 | Location: Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)

This March, the vibrant intersection of neuroscience, culture, urban life, and health returns to Barcelona with the Brain Film Fest 2026, an international festival that uses the power of cinema to deepen public understanding of the brain, its functions, and its connection to everyday life.

Now in its ninth edition, the festival will take place from March 11 to 15, 2026, at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), offering a diverse programme of films, talks, debates, and educational activities.

Habitat the Mind: A Thematic Focus for 2026

The 2026 edition — held under the theme “Inhabiting the Mind” — invites reflection on how the environments we live in shape our brains and health. The programme explores how urban environments, architecture, social contexts, and daily life experiences influence brain health and human behaviour.

UBDPolicy at Brain Film Fest: Noise, Rest, and Health

We are proud to share that Dr. Sasha Khomenko, a postdoctoral researcher from the UBDPolicy team, will be participating in one of the festival’s highlight discussions: “When Does Our Brain Rest? How Noise Affects Our Health.”

This panel addresses the growing evidence that constant noise and fast-paced urban environments increase stress, disrupt sleep, and have direct impacts on mental and neurological health. Drawing on research from public health, urban planning, and neuroscience, the session brings together experts from different fields to discuss how cities can become healthier, calmer, and more supportive of brain function.

Sasha’s contribution focuses on the intersections of urban environmental exposures, public policies, and health outcomes, highlighting noise as a key urban stressor and sharing insights on how policy and planning can promote quieter, healthier living spaces for all.

Reserve your spot and secure your tickets here: brainfilmfest.com