A MediCinema BAFTA Award has been in the process for a while and 2025 is the year where this British charity has been given one of BAFTA’s highest accolades, the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award.
MediCinema improves the well-being of patients by building cinemas within NHS hospitals allowing patients to escape the confines of their own medical ailments to be whisked away in a world of film.
The award will be presented to Colin Lawrence, CEO of MediCinema, during the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards’ ceremony at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 16th February, celebrating its impact in bringing cinema experiences to those undergoing medical treatment in hospitals around the UK, at no cost to the patients or the NHS.
MediCinema was founded in 1999 and builds and operates state-of-the-art cinemas in hospitals and places of care. The charity collaborates with the film industry to provide the latest releases free of charge.
Studies have shown that utilising these cinemas in this environment can reduce anxiety, stress and feelings of isolation for patients of all ages. More than 17.500 patients benefitted from going to a film screen in their hospital in 2024.
Merely having something to focus on and look forward to in hospital is a major factor in recovery. Giving you something to occupy you instead of staring at the same four walls in the same ward day after day allows MediCinema to really come into its own in terms of benefitting the patients.
MediCinema has been expanding at a rapid rate building cinemas across the UK, including Guy’s Hospital and Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London, Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and Royal Hospital for Children/Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. With medical equipment and nurses at every screening, these cinemas allow patients to enjoy a shared cinema experience with their loved ones, creating a sense of normality and well-being during their stay in care.
Jane Millichip, CEO of BAFTA, said:
It is a real privilege to be able to recognise the incredible work of MediCinema at the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards. MediCinema’s unique cinema experience provides meaningful benefits to hospital patients and their families, by offering the immersive experience of film to alleviate the feelings of anxiety and isolation that people so often feel when in hospital. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the societal good of film deployed in this way. Congratulations to everyone at MediCinema.
Colin Lawrence, CEO of MediCinema, said:
We are honoured to be the recipient of BAFTA’s Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award. Film and cinema have an incredible power to remove people from their everyday surroundings. Many in hospital are going through very difficult times, and we see every day how being immersed in the power of the big screen can benefit their psychological wellbeing and provide meaningful release from the challenges of being on the wards. We are so grateful to BAFTA for recognising the contribution and impact we have made over the past 25 years.
MediCinema is funded by donations from individuals, organisations, and Trusts and Foundations.
I want to express a huge congratulations and heartfelt thanks to the team at MediCinema who are changing people’s lives and aiding in their recovery.
The 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony will be hosted by the multi-talented, award-winning David Tennant on Sunday, 16 February, and broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK. The ceremony will also be streamed on BritBox International in North America, and will be available on BritBox on demand in the Nordics, and Australia, as well as a host of other international broadcasters. Stay tuned and follow the action with #EEBAFTAs.
