Bringing Patient Stories to Life

We are privileged to work with extraordinary organisations such as the NHS, Cancer Research UK, Genomics England, Royal Papworth Hospital, Kidney Research UK, Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, Asthma + Lung UK, Amgen, CMR Surgical, and Microsoft Research. Each collaboration is unique, yet they all share a common goal: to bring patient stories to life in the most authentic and compelling way possible.

Our process is deeply collaborative. We begin by listening – really listening – to patients, healthcare professionals, scientists, and the people behind groundbreaking research or frontline care. These conversations form the foundation of every project, ensuring that the films we create are truthful, respectful, and powerful. From there, we craft narratives that go beyond the statistics and medical jargon to reveal the human experience at the heart of each story.

At Cambridge Filmworks we pride ourselves on our dedication to authenticity. We  engage with medical and scientific experts throughout production, ensuring that complex topics (such as genomics, rare diseases, diagnostics) are presented clearly, responsibly, and ethically.

We are constantly exploring new creative techniques, from high-end live-action shoots to animation, 3D visualisation, and cutting-edge digital storytelling. These tools allow us to visualise the invisible, to explain the complex, and to make science and medicine accessible without ever losing sight of the people whose lives are at the centre of the story.

Impact: Why These Films Matter

For organisations communicating patient stories, the importance of doing it well is huge:

1. Empathy and connection: Patient stories humanise policy, research, or fundraising. Audiences see faces, hear voices, feel the stakes. This builds trust with patients, donors, the public.
2. Clarity around complex topics: Genomics, for instance, is technically demanding. Animation and storytelling can make science comprehensible, reducing fear or misunderstanding, and inspiring engagement.
3. Legacy and awareness: Documentaries or centennial histories (like for Royal Papworth Hospital) preserve institutional memory and can inspire future staff, supporters, and patients.
4. Supporting fundraising, policy, public health campaigns: Compelling film & content are invaluable in influencing donors, shaping public opinion, or driving healthcare policy. When people see real stories rather than statistics, they are more likely to act.

Cambridge Filmworks

• Multi-disciplinary in-house capability
• Track record with large, complex clients
• Flexibility across all media and platforms
• Commitment to story first

Given the pace of innovation in healthcare, medicine, public health, medical technology, and digital media, there is increasing opportunity – and responsibility to help bridge the gap between science/policy and the public.

If you are part of a hospital, research institute, charity, or health-focused organisation, considering how to communicate what your patients and researchers experience, what they discover, endure, triumph over, then the right film can do far more than show – it can change what people believe, feel, and ultimately, what they do.

At Cambridge Filmworks, we believe in the power of storytelling to create change. Every film, every animation, every project is an opportunity to shine a light where it is most needed and to help shape a better, more compassionate world.

www.cambridgefilmworks.com

Cambridge Filmworks

Cambridge Film Video Animation Content Productions