FORMER JEP photographer Richard Wainwright is returning to his home island this week to present his debut short documentary, The Comfort Dogs of Uganda, at the 13th Parish Film Festival.
The 30-minute film is one of four made by Jersey directors which will be screened on Friday evening at the Arts Centre.
Mr Wainwright, who now lives in Australia, made his film last year.
It follows three former child soldiers in Northern Uganda as they rebuild their lives with the help of rescued dogs. Having suffered severe PTSD after being abducted and brutalised by the Lord’s Resistance Army, they are paired with abandoned dogs through an innovative canine-assisted therapy initiative known as The Comfort Dog Project.
The film introduces Lucy and her dog Sadik, one of the programme’s first graduates; Francis and his loyal guard dog Tommy; and Jennifer, who credits her dog Ogen with saving her life. Together, their stories form a deeply moving exploration of trauma, recovery, and the profound healing power of human-animal connection.
Mr Wainwright said: “It is a real privilege to be selected for the 13th Parish Film Festival, and it feels like this story has come full circle being shown in Jersey. I first became involved with the war in Northern Uganda in 2002 while working as a photographer with the JEP. I spent three weeks on a self-funded assignment documenting the atrocities of the Lord’s Resistance Army. To return over 20 years later and tell a story about healing and resilience has been quite a journey.”
Following its premiere in Gulu, Northern Uganda, in February this year, the film has screened at festivals in Perth, Sydney, and Mexico City. It has received multiple accolades, including Most Inspiring Documentary in Mexico and an Award of Excellence at the Impact DOCS Awards, where it also ranked among the top ten films.
Upcoming screenings are scheduled in New York, Geneva, and Barcelona.
Since leaving the JEP, Richard now lives in Perth, with his wife Terese, a former intensive care nurse at the Hospital.
He continues to work as a photographer and filmmaker for international aid agencies, reporting on humanitarian issues in countries such as Afghanistan, Burma, Sudan and South Sudan.
