The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland has launched a heartfelt new campaign in support of MediCinema, a long-term charity partner, to spotlight the healing power of cinema for NHS hospital patients.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and support for MediCinema, a UK charity that builds and operates cinemas inside hospitals. These special theatres are equipped to accommodate beds, wheelchairs, and medical equipment, allowing patients and their families to enjoy free screenings together- offering moments of escape, comfort, and joy during challenging times.

Disney has worked with MediCinema for over 25 years through its Movie Moments programme, which brings beloved stories to children’s hospitals around the world. This ongoing support helps deliver the emotional and mental benefits of storytelling and the big screen experience to young patients and their caregivers.

As part of the new campaign, a 90-second short film-created in collaboration with Feref and produced by Tinderflint- follows the story of three hospitalised children. Set within a hospital, the film shows the children being transported into the magical worlds of their favourite films, highlighting the emotional impact of cinema.

The imaginative journey features scenes inspired by three of Disney’s most anticipated Spring/Summer releases: “Lilo and Stitch”, Marvel Studios’ “Fantastic 4: First Steps”, and Disney and Pixar’s “Elio”.

The campaign goes live on Disney-owned channels from 21 May and will be shown in Vue cinemas across the UK and Ireland starting in June.

Lee Jury, Senior Vice President, Studios Marketing at The Walt Disney Company EMEA said “In this short film we wanted to tell a powerful story about how transformative cinema can be. The work of MediCinema and the remarkable experiences that they create help hospital patients truly escape into other worlds, where they can feel the physical and mental benefits of immersing themselves in stories and films that are transportive when experienced on the big screen.

“At Disney we wanted to bring some of the most beloved characters and stories in our most anticipated titles of the year into MediCinema and this wonderful short film features Lilo and Stitch, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and introduces Elio in one heartwarming piece.”