Reflections of a CEO – One year on from MediCinema’s BAFTA Win

The accolade didn’t just celebrate MediCinema’s work and impact, it brought the charity to the attention of so many more people, amplifying its voice across the film industry, healthcare sector, and beyond. 

One year on, Colin Lawrence, CEO of MediCinema, reflects on what this honour meant for the organisation, the ripple effects it created, and how it shaped the charity’s journey in the months that followed. From industry partnerships to patient impact, Colin shares candid insights into a year of growth, opportunity, and renewed purpose. 

Looking back, what was your immediate reaction when MediCinema was announced as the recipient of the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema? 

Receiving that letter from BAFTA telling us that we had been chosen for the award came as a complete surprise, and an unforgettable life moment! To have such a degree of recognition from The Academy, and of course validation of our founder Christine’s vision, will always be a defining moment in MediCinema’s history 

All of us realized that beyond receiving such an incredible honour, the BAFTA had the power to change our future trajectory and the past 12 months have really demonstrated this.  

What impact has the BAFTA had for MediCinema in the past 12 months? 

On the night, our award was televised widely, something we knew wasn’t necessarily guaranteed. We subsequently experienced an incredible wave of public support both through donations, and many heartfelt responses to our story and those of the patients featured in our film.

The Film and Cinema industry have always given the most generous and dependable support to MediCinema through funding, unrestricted access to the latest releases, and helping us bring real movies right to the heart of the NHS.  Having the opportunity to publicly acknowledge that longstanding generosity was an absolute privilege.   

We also had a strong response from many in the NHS which has been invaluable as we are looking to expand our network of in-hospital cinemas and build on our impact across the UK.  

What did the BAFTA mean for your team and the volunteers who make MediCinema possible? 

The award meant a huge amount to the team. The kudos truly belongs to all our staff, volunteers, nurses and health sector partners who have supported us since the beginning.  

We made sure that the award could tour all our sites so that our teams could share in the big moment, and that extended to our patient guests and NHS colleagues too. The sense of pride and excitement when the award reached each of our sites was palpable.   

What did the BAFTA win mean for patients that visit MediCinema?  

Touring the wards with a BAFTA really opened conversations with patients, many of whom either hadn’t heard of us, or who couldn’t believe that they had access to a cinema in their hospital. Being able to touch and hold the BAFTA, made a trip to our MediCinemas even more special.  

We also saw the most generous outpouring of support from past patients who had visited MediCinema during hospital stays. We had many messages from people sharing what their experience had meant to them and their loved ones and the difference it had made during difficult times. 

Looking ahead, how do you plan to build on the momentum created by this recognition to further MediCinema’s mission?  

We absolutely realised that this award could have far reaching impact and benefit, no doubt a once in a lifetime opportunity for the charity.  

In 2026, we are due to open not one, but two new MediCinemas, enabling us to reach more patients than ever. Increased awareness and funding are both critical to our growth and ability to deliver for patients, their families and carers at  a time of such  need. The BAFTA has given us real rocket fuel! 

What was it like for you at the BAFTA Awards?  

It was a completely surreal moment to be presented with the BAFTA on stage by Simon Pegg and having all those famous faces, the film and cinema community, give MediCinema a standing ovation.  An amazing home crowd for sure. 

In that moment I realised that this award connected the work we do with patients in hospitals and the immense power of storytelling created by  many of those  in the room. When you bring all of that  together, incredible things can happen.  

Congratulations to Claire Binns, Creative Director at Picturehouse, to whom we pass the baton of this award!