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TV documentary: Little heroes - great opportunities
Last Update on: 14.07.2010
Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Pammer Film are celebrating the premiere of the TV documentary
"Little Heroes – Great Opportunities. Childhood Cancer Research in Europe"
Applied science communication with EU sponsorship
Vienna – On the 28th February 2010 the Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Pammer Film extended an invitation to the wonderfully dignified Metro Cinema in Vienna’s city centre, to celebrate the finished documentary “Little Heroes – Great Opportunities. Childhood Cancer Research in Europe". The event was presented by Barbara Stöckl..Univ.-Doz. Dr. Michael Dworzak, senior consultant at the St. Anna Children’s Hospital, presented the successes and future challenges facing childhood cancer researchers and paediatric oncologists in Europe
Date of broadcast: Thursday 5th August 2010 / 3sat / 20:15 (German language)
Snapshots of the film premiere
Many thanks to the Filmarchiv Austria
172 invited guests attended the Sunday matinee at the Metro Cinema, 1010 Vienna, organised within the framework of the EU project DIRECT/OVERCOMING CANCER WITH RESEARCH.
The popular Austrian television presenter Barbara Stöckl and university lecturer Dr. Michael Dworzak bade the audience a heartfelt welcome and explained – in the form of a live interview - the idea and background that led to the production of a striking documentary about childhood cancer research in Europe.
In the 2nd section Hans Thurner, mountain guide, ski guide and photographer, introduced the audience to the mountainous alpine environment of the Großglockner region. With his slideshow he presented breathtaking snapshots of the 5-day Großglockner tour, which was also organised as part of the EU-sponsored project DIRECT/OVERCOMING CANCER WITH RESEARCH together with eight former childhood patients. Following the slideshow, guests watched a striking 27 minute film on the Großglockner adventure, accompanied by a musical composition from Markus Moser and Thomas Mayer from aux2 Sonic Service.
LITTLE HEROES – GREAT OPPORTUNITIES: Details on the TV documentary
Working together with screenwriter and director Gustav W. Trampitsch and Pammer Film, a striking film came into being, which illustrates in a highly sensitive way contrasting personal cases of the dramatic fight against childhood cancer diseases, as experienced by the young patients, their parents, the doctors, therapists and childhood cancer researchers.
What we must conquer: Cancer in Europe’s children and teenagers
The film reports on improvments in diagnoses and treatments to the benefit of children and young people suffering from cancer, which have been possible thanks to the international network of childhood cancer experts and which remain the constant focus of laboratory and clinical research.
The way in which these networks are connected with one another through bio-medicinal research and clinical studies is generally difficult for the broader public to comprehend. The extent to which individual research projects - which are also financed with public funds - serve to benefit young patients suffering from cancer remains abstract. Indeed in some instances resentment even exists as a result of such research funding.
It is precisely here that the film comes into effect.
The TV documentary is intended to help communicate the connection between research and the improved chances of treatment success amongst young patients, and furthermore to generate a greater level of sensitivity in relation to the scientific and indeed the financial burdens attached.
Strong research network in Europe
The direct cooperation between the St. Anna childhood cancer research institute in Vienna and the childhood cancer treatment centre at the St. Anna children’s hospital provides a perfect example of targeted research, diagnostics and applications at one and the same institution, in the battle against leukaemia and malignant tumours in children and young people. The relatively small research institute has succeeded in carrying out extensive pioneering work since its establishment in 1988, and enjoys a high level of international recognition.
Many European facilities play a role
The film succeeds in making transparent the highly fruitful cooperation between medicinal and scientific alliances at a range of venues across Europe, for example the childhood cancer centre research institute in Hamburg, German or the Stefano Verri laboratory in Monza, Italy, which must work without basic fundingfrom the state.
Cancer and treatment can leave their marks
Despite the positive developments, one thing is always clear: Being cured does not always mean walking away undamaged by any means. The aggressive treatments can cause short and long-term physical, psychological and psychosocial side-effects. Therefore, the stated pan-European aim of physicians, scientists and private organisations such as the Austrian childhood cancer charity, the German Childhood Cancer Foundation and various parent initiatives in Europe, is holistic healing in a medical, psychological and social sense.
The film shows various privately financed institutions such as the forest pirate camp of the German childhood cancer foundation in Heidelberg, which offers support to affected patients and families along the lengthy and difficult course of the illness and back into everyday life.
Together against cancer with children and young people in Europe
In order to further improve the chances of recovery it is essential to better understand the biological characteristics of childhood cancer cells, to further minimise the adverse side-effects of treatments and to optimise the long-term aftercare for former childhood cancer patients. All future scientific and financial efforts, including public awareness campaigns, are aimed at these objectives.
Request by interested sponsor regarding the film material (German and English version)
Email: sandra.brezina@ccri.at
