Capturing kidney care journeys on camera
From an indigenous community in Canada to rural areas in Sri Lanka, and from transplant journeys in India to stories of care in Colombia, the ISN Community Film Event harnesses the voices of patients, families, and healthcare workers around the world to spotlight the challenges and resilience that shape kidney care.
Since it launched in 2019 at WCN’19 in Melbourne, Australia, more than 200 films from over 40 countries have shown what’s possible when lived experience meets storytelling. These stories don’t just raise awareness… they empower others to act.
Click on each dot for a preview of each film’s description.
Watch the films and interviews with winners
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“2025 ISN Film Community Best Film” winner SACRED GIFT Submitted by:Caroline Tait (Metis) (Indigenous Platform Lead, Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Canada); Sean Muir (First Nations)(Indigenous Story Studio, Canada); Kevin Settee (Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Canada); Craig Settee (Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Canada) |
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Sharron Rouse’s journey with apol1-mediated kidney disease: embracing advocacy and raising awareness Submitted by:Olivia StMartin (Vertex Pharmaceuticals, USA); Lyndsey Scull (Vertex Pharmaceuticals, USA) ; Hayley Lambert (Vertex Pharmaceuticals, USA); Matt Gelineau (Vertex Pharmaceuticals, USA) |
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Positivity breeds resilience despite dialysis dependent renal failure Submitted by: Wan Hazlina Wan Mohamad (Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) ;Muhammad Syahmi Azman (Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia); Azrini Abdul Aziz (Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) |
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ISPD – 40 years of empowering patients on dialysis worldwide Submitted by:International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis |
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Heroes de cada dia: sueños y esperanza en dialisis / everyday heroes: dreams and hope in dialysis Submitted by:Milenka Flores Pacara (Dr Mario Ortiz Suárez “Children´s Hospital”, Bolivia) |
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Donate life: pablo’s story Submitted by:Paula Marioli (Renálida, Argentina); Maximiliano Bresciano (Renálida, Argentina); Federico Mendoza Correa (Renálida, Argentina); Hugo Petrone (CUCAIBA, Argentina) |
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Avia’s story Submitted by:Katrina Chau (Regional Dialysis Centre, Blacktown Hospital, Australia); Tanya Smolonogov (Regional Dialysis Centre, Blacktown Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, Australia) |
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“2024 ISN Film Community Best Film” winner Local Strengths for Local Weaknesses: A Lifeline to Wellassa Submitted by:Dr. Udana Ratnapala, CKD Prevention Task Forece, Monagarala, Sri Lanka |
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“2024 WKD Best Film” winner An act of love, the first kidney transplant with a living donor in the history of medicine in Nariño Submitted by:Dr. Andrea Caicedo, Fundacion Hospital San Pedro, Pasto, Colombia |
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Kidney Care UK Supporting Kidney Patients at the British Transplant Games Submitted by: Fiona Loud, Kidney Care UK, UK |
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Making It Possible Submitted by:Dr. Randall Lou Meda, Fundanier, Guatemala |
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Prep for Change Submitted by:Alfredo Moreno, La Isla Network, Washington, USA |
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The Rising Phoenix: Peritoneal Dialysis Keeping the Dreams Alive for Award-winning Baritone Submitted by:Dr Medha Airy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA |
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“2023 ISN Film Community Best Film” winner HOPE SUSTAINS LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF A CKD WOMAN Submitted by:S. SHANMUGHAM, G. Krishnan, C. Thirumavalavan, R. Sethuraman (KG Hospital, Nephrology, Coimbatore, India) |
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“2023 WKD Best Film” winner OVERCOMING THE REMOTENESS WITH LOVE FOR A KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION Submitted by:J. Restrepo (Fundacion Valle Del Lili, Department of Pediatrics, Cali, Colombia), J.M. Forero Delgadillo (Fundacion Valle Del Lili, Department of Pediatrics, Cali, Colombia), V.A. Ochoa Jiménez (Fundacion Valle Del Lili, Department of Pediatrics, Cali, Colombia), M.D.P. Duque Guevara (Fundacion Valle Del Lili, Department of Pediatrics, Cali, Colombia), A. Montenegro (Fundacion Valle Del Lili, Department of Communications, Cali, Colombia), M.I. Sánchez Vélez (Fundacion Valle Del Lili, Department of Communications, Cali, Colombia) |
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HIDDEN CKD PATIENTS PERSPECTIVES Submitted by: R. Agyekum (King’s College NHS Foundation Trust, Renal, Petts Wood, United Kingdom) |
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ENDURING HOPE THE STORY OF DR AKOS PETHO Submitted by:N. Frakes (Fresenius Medical Care, Semmelweis University Dialysis Station, Budapest, Hungary); M. Frakes ( Budapest, Hungary) |
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RESEARCH PROVIDES HOPE FOR TRANSPLANT PATIENTS Submitted by:R. SAPIR-PICHHADZE (McGill University, Medicine, Montréal, Canada) |
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UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Submitted by:K.P. Pyar (Khin Phyu Pyar/ISN/Myanmar, Department of medicine and Department of Nephrology – Defence Services Medical Academy- Yangon-Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar) |
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MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERYDAY Submitted by:T. Kanjanabuch (Faculty of Medicine- Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Center of Excellence in Kidney Metabolic Disorders, Pathum Wan, Thailand), S. Purisinsith (Health Department- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration- Bangkok- Thailand, Health Department, Bangkok, Thailand), S. Tungsanga (Division of Nephrology- Department of Medicine- Faculty of Medicine- Chulalongkorn University- Bangkok 10330- Thailand., Department of Medicine- Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand), T. Saejew (Faculty of Medicine- Chulalongkorn University, Center of Excellence in Kidney Metabolic Disorders, Bangkok, Thailand) |
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“2022 ISN Film Community Best Film” winner
For Some the Wait Never Ends |
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“2022 WKD Best Film” winner
Ilan Lavi Donates a Kidney – And Gets a Happiness Transplant |
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Alport Story: From Personal Isolation to International Collaboration for Kidney Care Submitted by:S. Gear (Alport UK, Patient- Patient Advocacy Group, Oxford, United Kingdom), R. Lenno (Manchester University, Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Manchester, United Kingdom), S. Clarke (Alport UK, Patient- Filmmaker and Action Sports Enthusiast, Reading, United Kingdom), P. Walker (Alport UK, Patient, London, United Kingdom), J. Zhang (China Alport Patient Organisation, Patient, Shanghai, China), V. Fronterè (Associazione Sindrome di Alport- A.S.A.L Onlus, Patient, Siena, Italy), A. Zealey Smith (Alport UK, Patient, Southampton, United Kingdom), N.R.H. Hassan (Alport UK, Patient, Manchester, United Kingdom), A. Jardin (Alport Syndrome Foundation, Patient, New York, United States) Y. Cai (China Alport Patient Organisation, Patient, Beijing, China) |
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Together We Can Change Lives Submitted by:M. Canales (Fundacion Luz y Vida, NGO, Tegucigalpa, Honduras) |
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Anthony’s Story. Nocturnal Dialysis: This Game-Changing-Service Puts Patients at The Centre of Their Care, Supporting Them to Access Treatment When and How it Suits Them Submitted by:J. Skewes, S. Gleeson, S. Morris, S. Govindarajulu, (Queensland Health, Darling Downs Kidney Service- Toowoomba Hospital- Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Toowoomba, Australia) B. Judd (Queensland Health, CEQ. Engage- Clinical Excellence Queensland, Brisbane, Australia), C. Mears, A. Salisbury (Queensland Health, Advancing Kidney Care 2026- Clinical Excellence Queensland, Brisbane, Australia) |
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Pregnancy in Dialysis Story Submitted by:J. Santacruz (Clinica de los Riñones Menydial, Nephrology- dialysis, Quito, Ecuador), C. Santacruz (Clinica de los Riñones Menydial, Nephrology- dialysis, Quito, Ecuador,Clínica de los Riñones Menydial, Nephrology, Quito, Ecuador) |
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Kidney Transplantation: New Life New Hope Submitted by:F. Nobi, T.S. Kashem, N.A.S. Begum, S.U.Z. Arefin, H.U. Rashid, S. Nomany (Kidney Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Nephrology and Transplantation, Dhaka, Bangladesh). |
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“2021 ISN Film Community Best Film” winner
Life Beyond the Transplant |
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“WKD 2021 Best Film” winner
The Mountain in His Blood |
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Finalist
Aham Kushalini |
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Finalist
A Successful Story of an Underpriviledged Female Haemodialysis Patient |
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Finalist
A Struggle for a Normal Life |
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Finalist
Stop chronic kidney disease in rural areas |
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Finalist
Mehwish – Challenging the Challenges (Story of a Dialysis Patient) |
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Winner
Hope is a Walking Dream |
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Finalist
Dialysis; Is it the End? |
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Finalist
Hope – An African Transplant Story |
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Finalist
Maternal Love |
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Finalist
Pre-dialysis Education Value |
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Finalist
The One Inside |
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Winner
Dialysis Journey of a Sarawakian |
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Finalist
Hope Conquers All |
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Finalist
Riding the Tide of Dialysis |
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Finalist
Art in Hemodialysis |
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Finalist
#PatientsIncluded |
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Highlight Film
Dialysis Night Fever – Stayin’ Alive |
Watch the video interviews of winners from previous editions sharing the experience about its participation.
Interview with Dr. Sabarinath Shanmugham
2023 ISN Community Best Film winner
Hope Sustains Life through the Lens of a CKD Woman
Interview with Dr. Jeyakumar Meyyappan
2022 ISN Community Best Film winner
For Some the Wait Never Ends
Interview with Dr. Roberto Pecoits-Filho
2021 ISN Community Best Film winner
Life Beyond the Transplant
Interview with Dr. Vui Eng Phui
2019 ISN Community Best Film winner
Dialysis Journey of a Sarawakian
Interview with Dr. Jaime Restrepo
2023 World Kidney Day Best Film winner
Overcoming the Remoteness with Love for a Kidney Transplantation
Interview with Dr. Huttaporn Tharapanich
Protagonist of the Film “Miracles Happen Every Day”
Miracles Happen Every Day
Submit your film for the 8th ISN Community Film Event
Key dates
- November 5, 2025 film submission deadline
- December 3, 2025finalist announced
- December 5, 2025 online voting opens
- January 6, 2026 online voting closes
- March 9, 2026 winner announced
- March 28-31, 2026 award ceremony + activities during WCN’26
Films are a powerful tool to raise awareness, educate, and inspire action by sharing real stories from people living with kidney disease, their families, and the healthcare professionals who support them.
Could your film be the chosen one?
The winner will be invited to join an awards ceremony at WCN’26 in Yokohama, Japan, receive a travel grant to cover trip costs, and complimentary registration (reimbursed) to attend the congress.
How to participate
We welcome films from ISN members that reflect personal, clinical, or community kidney care experiences.
Each film is a platform to:
- Advocate for patients
- Highlight local kidney health challenges
- Share daily life inside hospitals and clinics
- Thank unsung heroes
- Raise awareness for meaningful causes
Films must be:
- Less than 7 minutes long
- Produced within the last 2 years
- HD (1920×1080), 16:9 format
- Uploaded with the filename format: Lastname_CoFe2026, e.g. Santos_CoFe2026
- Submitted by an ISN member
When submitting your film, you’ll be asked to include:
- A title that clearly reflects your story (max. 100 characters including spaces)
- A short description about your film’s message, what inspired it, the story it tells, and the year it was created. Feel free to make it personal, informative, and compelling (max. 5,000 characters including spaces)
- A few keywords to help viewers find your film online (e.g. kidney disease, transplant, patient story, dialysis, rural health, caregiver…)
The text you share may be edited and will appear on the ISN YouTube channel if your film is selected.
Selection and awards
- A jury composed of ISN and WKD representatives will select six finalist films.
- Online voting takes place from December 5, 2025 to January 6, 2026.
- The most voted entry will be awarded the title of “ISN Community Best Film”.
Did you know? Since the ISN Community Film Event was launched in 2019, over 25,000 votes were cast by the ISN, WCN, and WKD communities to recognize the most impactful stories!
Award and celebration
The winner will be invited to WCN’26, in Yokohama, Japan receiving a travel grant to cover trip costs and complimentary registration (reimbursed) to attend the congress.
The following activities will be held at WCN’26:
- Award ceremony during a congress session
- Kidney Studio interview with the winner
- Awareness activity at the WKD booth
- Screenings of the winning and selected finalist films during the congress
The winner (or a representative) is strongly encouraged to take part in these events to maximize the impact of their story. More information and details will follow.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please reach out to the team at infowcn@theisn.org.