What was this Documentary about?
Life Before Death was a film project shot in 11 countries that featured over 40 nationalities. The film revealed how extraordinary healthcare professionals and the sick fought the struggle to stop the pain. The project comprised of an 81 mins feature film, a 55 mins documentary and 50 short films.
WHAT DID THIS PROJECT SEEK TO ACHIEVE?
One of our core missions is to improve care for the dying. This film delved into the issue of untreated pain and the importance of palliative care. Through the project and short training clips, we hoped to spur action in increasing global accessibility in palliative care and pain relief drugs.
Coinciding with the launch, 70 volunteers from the Singapore Cancer Society took to the streets to give out syringe-like pens, peddling the message of “Stop the Pain” and raise awareness on this issue.
The documentary premiered in Singapore on 1 February and commemorated World Cancer Day. It was followed by over 200 screenings across over 37 countries in 11 languages. The initiative was sanctioned as an official World Cancer day activity. It won four awards including a Prestige Award, Best of Show in the Best Shorts Competition, an Accolade Award, and The Indie Fest Award.
International press such as BBC, AFP, The Hindu in India, Sydney Morning Herald and The Standard in Hong Kong covered LIFE Before Death. Stories mentioned our intent and highlighted issues on the under treatment of pain and misconceptions of morphine and the need for more to be done. The launch in Singapore set off a ripple effect that saw the film scheduled into numerous conferences and propelled various palliative care initiatives in various countries.