Putting MS in the limelight through films, animations and documentaries

This World MS Day, MS organisations have around the world have risen to the challenge of shining a spotlight on the invisible impact of MS.

Get the popcorn! May has been a month of some serious creativity with MS organisations producing and launching films, animations and video interviews.

In São Paulo, Brazil, HM-1 Artistic Productions and Associação Brasileira de Esclerose Múltipla (ABEM) will launch the documentary, “The Diary of Lidwina”, on World MS Day. Brazilian filmmaker Leonardo Gâmbera and Daniel Moreno wanted to create this film to explore MS and its impact on people across Brazil and the world. This wonderful documentary is made up of a series of conversations with people with MS, their loved ones and doctors. It touches MS symptoms, diagnosis and the personal experiences of MS. We are delighted that Peer Baneke, CEO of the MS International Federation, features in the documentaryTo be launched on World MS Day! Watch the teaser:

MS Australia has created a very moving animation on World MS Day, which will explore one woman’s experience of living with the invisible symptoms of MS. It looks at how people often don’t see or understand MS symptoms, with the clear message of ‘you don’t have to see my MS symptoms to believe them’. The full animation will launch on World MS Day.

Watch the teaser:

MS Ireland took to the streets and asked the Irish public what they know about MS, who gets it, MS in the workplace and invisible symptoms. These videos are a great way of busting those common misconceptions and MS myths! They really help to shine a spotlight on the work that we all still have to do in raising awareness of MS and its unseen impact on quality of life.

In Mexico, the Esclerosis Múltiple Puebla de los Ángeles filmed four people talking about their MS, their diagnosis and their symptoms. Very powerful stuff! 

In Luxembourg, Multiple Sclérose Lëtzebuerg had a screening of the film ‘Small grey clouds’. It’s a beautifully shot film directed by German director, Sabine Merina, who was diagnosed with MS in 2011. When she received her diagnosis, the doctor said: “Sabine, there is a small grey cloud in your blue sky”. To her it felt more like a massive thunderstorm. The film explores her questions and fears as a newly diagnosed person with MS. As part of their World MS Day activities, Multiple Sclérose Lëtzebuerg screened this very moving film, which was first shown in German cinemas in 2015.

The Multiple Sklerose Gesellschaft Österreich in Austria has launched a film called Balancing Act which shows a young woman – successful in her job, with a happy family – who is confronted out of the blue with an MS diagnosis. The screenwriter’s aim was to show how MS can have an impact on the entire family. The film touches on a range of invisible symptoms, including fatigue (severe physical and mental fatigue), urinary incontinence or sexual problems.

For more information click here.