Unrest
Medium
Role
Film
Associate Producer
Category
Strategic Engagement & Social Impact
Challenge
Unrest, Jennifer Brea’s documentary feature film, is an intimate account of living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
ME/CFS is an invisible illness affecting 15 to 30 million people worldwide. Patients are routinely dismissed by doctors; research is sparse and underfunded; treatment options are vastly limited. There is no cure.
Anchored by Brea's own experiences, Unrest captures the collective stories of ME/CFS patients.
Could the film effect real, systemic change by spotlighting the widespread scope of this disease?
"Riveting... equal parts medical mystery, science lesson, political advocacy primer and even a love story."
— The San Francisco Chronicle
Process
Unrest's Sundance Film Festival premiere launched a multiyear, global social impact campaign alongside its 40+ festival appearances and distribution windows.
The goals were ambitious: to raise public awareness of ME/CFS, deepen understanding of the disease, promote better policies and more empathetic care, and attract scientific research and funding.
With coordinated support from institutions, medical and scientific professionals, and disabled and non-disabled allies, the campaign empowered and mobilized the historically marginalized ME/CFS community.
Using the OVEE screening platform, the campaign designed a virtual premiere with theatrical screenings for disabled and homebound audiences.
Scientific guides were crafted for journalists and advocacy toolkits were created for community screening hosts. Signed petitions were used to lobby Congress and Parliament.
Solution
Grassroots organizing generated momentous press and permeated political, medical, and scientific spaces at local, national, and international levels, including in the US, UK, Scotland, Denmark, Finland, Australia, and New Zealand.
As a result, Unrest was:
Screened in hospitals & medical schools
Screened by governmental officers
Certified for Continuing Medical Education program
Cited by elected officials & in Parliamentary debates (UK, Scotland & Australia)
A catalyst for modernizing recommended therapies & clinical guidance by CDC & NIH (US), NHS & NICE (UK)
“Unrest truly brought ME/CFS out from the hidden shadows.”
— Linda Tannenbaum, Founder & CEO
Open Medicine Foundation
Metrics
34K+ attendees, 570+ screenings, 22 countries
1.3M+ PBS Independent Lens broadcast viewers
229 press hits, reaching an estimated 14.3M+ people
Translated into 29 languages
60% increase in US newspaper coverage of "chronic fatigue syndrome" during the year of Unrest's release
Recognition
Shortlisted: Documentary Feature, Academy Award
Emmy nominated: Documentary Editing
Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award
Sheffield DocFest Illuminate Award
Doc Impact Hi5 Award (download full report)