MediCinema, the British charity dedicated to improving the well-being of patients in NHS hospitals through the power of cinema and the magic of film, will be presented with BAFTA’s Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award at the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards.
This Special Award, one of BAFTA’s highest accolades, is presented to an individual or organisation that has made a significant and inspiring contribution to film through a particular project or work – with a focus on recognising efforts that might not otherwise be eligible in BAFTA’s competitive awards categories. 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.
Founded in 1999 by Christine Hill MBE, MediCinema builds and operates state-of-the-art cinemas inside hospitals and places of care, enabling patients and their families to enjoy the escapism and therapeutic benefits of the big screen in a safe and medically supported environment. Patients can attend even if they are in their hospital beds. The charity collaborates with the film industry to provide the latest releases free of charge, helping to reduce anxiety, stress, and feelings of isolation for patients of all ages. Last year alone more than 17,500 patients were able to benefit from going to a film screening in their hospital.
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.”
Since its inception, MediCinema has expanded its reach, building cinemas in hospitals 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.
MediCinema is funded by donations from individuals, organisations, and Trusts and Foundations.
BAFTA presents Fellowships and Special Awards to individuals and organisations who have made a significant and inspiring contribution to the screen arts year-round. Recent Special Award recipients include June Givanni, Meera Syal, David Olusoga, Shonda Rhimes, Alison Barnett, Shuhei Yoshida, Sandy Powell, Triple C, and Sir Billy Connolly. Previous Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema recipients, first awarded in 1979, include Andy Serkis, Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlson, the National Film and Television School, Curzon, Angels Costumes, and BBC Films.
The EE BAFTA Film Awards offers an unmissable celebration of the big screen, recognising the year’s best films and the extraordinary talent behind them.
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.
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ABOUT MEDICINEMA
MediCinema is a charity which improves the wellbeing and quality of life of NHS patients and their families through the power of the shared cinema experience and the magic of film. It builds and operates cinemas inside hospitals, equipped with space for beds, wheelchairs, and medical equipment and shows the latest releases for free. Its services demonstrably improve emotional, mental, and physical health, reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety, and stress, and increase patient resilience.
At no cost to the NHS, since the inaugural MediCinema opened in 1999 at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, they have provided hundreds of thousands of unforgettable cinematic experiences to patients, their families, and those closest to them, completely free of charge.
MediCinema operates cinemas in the following: Chelsea and Westminster, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London, Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children/Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Serennu Children’s Centre in Newport South Wales and the newest which opened at the end of 2024 in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
New MediCinemas have been announced at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and in Manchester University NHS Trust’s Oxford Road hospital campus – the largest Trust in the UK. Dates for both builds TBA.
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ABOUT BAFTA
BAFTA’s mission as a charity is to champion the creative and cultural importance of the screen arts across film, games and television. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of talent initiatives and learning events that include masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries and mentoring schemes in the UK and North America, BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new screen talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For more, visit www.bafta.org. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).
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