Cinehealth | film festival

4th ANNUAL

In Association With:

2026 Finalists Announced!

CineHealth proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world's #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.

PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER

PHILADELPHIA, PA

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS:

CINEHEALTH is the first and largest international film festival focusing exclusively on health and wellness.

CINEHEALTH works to bring the community together through patient and HCP engagement using innovative storytelling across video, film, TV and audio.

DETAILS ON IN-PERSON EVENT

Join us for CINEHEALTH at Fierce Pharma Week in September of 2025.

Join us for the red carpet awards dinner and celebration taking place at the National Constitution Center.

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST to receive the latest information leading up to the festival.

DETAILS

For more information on deadlines and eligibility CLICK HERE>.

2026 Lifetime Achievement

The Cinehealth Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals or groups who have made significant and sustained contributions to the development and/or dissemination of audio or video

content which educates and inspires patients and HCPs.

This year we are proud to honor

Maria Menounos, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, television host, NY Times bestselling author, actress and entrepreneur with a diverse career in the entertainment industry. Menounos became the youngest person to host “Entertainment Tonight and later contributed to the “Today” show, “Nightly News,” “Dateline,” and “Access Hollywood.”

Menounos has faced significant health challenges, including a brain tumor and a rare form of pancreatic cancer. While managing her mother’s stage 4 brain cancer care, Menounos discovered her own brain tumor, marking a pivotal moment in her life and career. She later underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Menounos has used these experiences to advocate for health and wellness through her podcast “Heal Squad,” where she shares information and resources to help others navigate their health journeys. Her openness about these challenges has established her as a prominent voice in wellness, perseverance, and self-advocacy within the entertainment and health industries.

As a Diabetes Awareness Ambassador for the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Maria has spoken on Capitol Hill and is working with lobbyists on improving treatment for the disease, worldwide. She is also the Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics and works closely with the LA Children’s hospital hosting her annual “Day Of Beauty” event for patients and their families.

We look forward to presenting Maria Menounos with a Cinehealth Lifetime Achievement Award during the awards ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on the evening of September 15, 2026.

2026 Storyteller's Lounge

Share the Story Only You Can Tell

... and be entered to win a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer AI glasses!

Get your Hollywood on! Ray-Ban Meta Glasses are innovative eyewear that seamlessly integrate technology with the iconic Ray-Ban style. These glasses offer smart features such as hands-free communication, audio streaming, and camera functionality, all within classic Ray-Ban designs. Additionally, with AI integration, they provide an even more advanced experience, enabling smart and intuitive interactions to simplify everyday tasks.

Book Your Timeslot!

What if the experience that changed your life could change someone else's?

Throughout the conference, we invite you to step into the Storytellers Lounge—an intimate space where powerful conversations become catalysts for change.

Every healthcare journey has a story worth telling.

You're invited to share the moments that have shaped your healthcare experience. Whether your story is inspiring, challenging, hopeful, or transformative, your voice matters.

Stop by anytime or reserve a recording session in advance for a relaxed, professionally recorded conversation. Throughout the conference, these authentic stories will be shared for attendees to view, creating opportunities to connect, learn, and experience healthcare through the eyes of those who have lived it.

Join us in celebrating the power of storytelling to build empathy, spark meaningful conversations, and inspire positive change in healthcare.

Walk in. Share your story. Inspire change.

Book Your Timeslot!

2026 Panel Discussions

Main Stage:
Reel Impact: How Audio, Film & Digital Content Empower Patients and Clinicians

Moderator:

Tracey Yaw

CineHealth Festival Director

Avalere Health

Shawn French

Podcast Host: The Determined Society

Jennifer Fessler

Real Housewives of NJ

TJ Cimfel

Netflix Screenwriter, Avalere Health

Manu Singh

National CineMedia

Jeff Fischer

PHM

Healthcare communication is rapidly evolving beyond traditional advertising and clinical education into a dynamic world of documentary storytelling, podcasts, streaming content, and immersive digital media. As patients and healthcare professionals increasingly seek information that is personal, accessible, and emotionally resonant, audio and visual storytelling are emerging as critical tools for education, engagement, advocacy, and trust-building.

This panel explores how healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, creators, filmmakers, clinicians, and patient advocates are using story-driven media to humanize complex medical topics, elevate patient voices, improve physician education, and foster deeper connections across the healthcare ecosystem. Panelists will discuss the growing influence of podcasts, streaming platforms, branded documentaries, creator partnerships, and AI-enabled content strategies in reaching audiences more authentically and effectively.

Attendees will learn how they can develop compelling narratives that drive awareness, reduce stigma, inspire action, and create more empowered patients and informed clinicians—while redefining the future of healthcare communication.

Media Track:
The 60-Second Diagnosis: How TikTok & Short-Form Video Are Reshaping Healthcare Decisions

Moderator:

Jeffrey D. Erb

Avalere Health

Dr. Vicki Chan

Ophthalmologist / Influencer

Divyanshi Raturi

Student, Middlebury College

AJ Castaldi

The Deerfield Group

Michael Haupt

Cognitive Media Lab, UC San Diego

TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and other short-form video platforms are rapidly transforming how people discover, discuss, and make decisions about healthcare. From symptom awareness and physician influencers to patient advocacy, wellness trends, and pharmaceutical education, short-form content is becoming one of the most influential—and disruptive—forces in modern health communication. The National Institutes of Health reports that studies show approximately 65% of young people intentionally search for health or medical advice on TikTok, underscoring the platform’s growing influence on healthcare perceptions and decision-making.

This panel explores how healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical brands, clinicians, creators, and patient advocates can effectively navigate and leverage these platforms to educate audiences, combat misinformation, build trust, and drive meaningful engagement. Panelists will discuss what makes health-related short-form content resonate, how algorithms shape visibility and influence, the growing role of healthcare creators and clinician influencers, and the ethical and regulatory considerations surrounding medical communication in social-first environments.

Attendees will gain practical insight into building authentic, effective short-form video strategies that connect with patients and healthcare professionals alike—while understanding the profound impact these platforms are having on healthcare behaviors, trust, and engagement.

Judges

2026 Jury Members

Our panel of esteemed judges comes from a diverse background from film, television and life sciences.

We thank them for their time, effort and support.