Lily Foundation film shortlisted for charity film … - The Lily Foundation
The Lily Foundation logo featuring a butterfly, hearts and an 'x' for a kiss

Fighting mito,
finding hope.

Lily Foundation film shortlisted for charity film awards

Awareness

13 February 2026

We’re delighted to share that The Lily Foundation has been shortlisted for the finals of the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2026, the world’s leading campaign celebrating films for good, thanks to the overwhelming support of our community.

A young mito patient crying and being embraced by her father

Our short film, What it Takes, tells the story of what it takes to live with mitochondrial disease. Featuring real mito patients, the film highlights the impact of our work and the power of storytelling to inspire change.

The response to this year’s awards has been overwhelming, and reaching the finals is testament to the passion of our supporters and the dedication of our team. Voting was open from November through to the end of January, and the organisations with the most votes made it onto the shortlist of finalists.

“We’re very proud to be finalists in the Smiley Charity Film Awards,” said our CEO and Founder, Liz Curtis. “Our film is more than just a story. It was filmed with real mito patients and is a celebration of the people who make our work possible.”

Being shortlisted is also a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of rare mitochondrial diseases beyond our immediate community, helping to bring these often overlooked conditions to a wider audience.

Now in its ninth year, the Smiley Charity Film Awards is the world’s largest platform for films with purpose, celebrating creativity, compassion and positive change. Previous hosts have included Lisa Snowdon and comedian and TV host Tom Allen, with attendance from industry experts from leading creative and humanitarian organisations.

If you haven’t already seen our film, you can watch it, and find out more about the awards, on the Smiley Film Awards website.

Judges’ scoring takes place between 18th February and 4th March, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 26th March. We’ll be sharing updates as the competition progresses, so cross your fingers and watch this space!

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