A FILM sharing the stories of people supported by a Hampshire hospice charity has been shortlisted for two awards.
West End-based Mountbatten Hospice and its film ‘Your Mountbatten Stories’, made with NOSY Creative Agency, is up for the long-form category at The Smiley Charity Film Awards, which has been dubbed the Oscars of charity film.
Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten's chief executive, said: “Being selected as finalists is a real coup for Mountbatten’s team, showcasing our work on an international stage.
“’Your Mountbatten Stories’ is an incredibly moving film and shows just how important Mountbatten is to the people we support.
"Mountbatten’s work really matters, and the film, sharing the stories of Chris, Stuart, Cherie, Amanda, Donna, and Ray, reflects this beautifully.
“By voting and sharing, more people will see the work we do to care for patients and families and be inspired to support us.
“Mountbatten is facing a huge increase in the need for our services and, like many hospices, critical issues with NHS funding. Our funding will be down by £400,000 in April this year due to potentially no uplift from the NHS for the services they commission us to provide.
“Opportunities like this help share our message far and wide - more people need our help than ever before, and we cannot afford to ignore anyone.
“Please help our film win a gold award this year and continue supporting Mountbatten in any way you can so we will still be here for you and your loved ones when you need us. Thank you.”
Chris Browning, who features in the 10-minute film, said: “Mountbatten means care, compassion, sensitivity, respect, and love. Because they really love what they do, the doctors, nurses, and volunteers. Anyone who comes to Mountbatten should be lucky that Mountbatten exists.”
The film is up against national charities, including Parkinson's UK, Alzheimer’s Research UK, RSPB, Mind and other causes.
A panel of high-profile and influential people from the worlds of fundraising, politics, business, entertainment and media will judge the long-form category and decide on a winner.
In the meantime, the public can vote for Mountbatten’s film to win the People’s Choice award at mountbatten-hampshire.org.uk/News/vote-for-our-film.
Voting is open until March 12. Last year, Mountbatten’s film, ‘Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime’, also made with NOSY Creative Agency, won a bronze award in the People’s Choice category.
The winners will be announced at a red-carpet ceremony at the ODEON Luxe cinema in Leicester Square, London, on March 20.
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