Alicante Smartphone Film Festival expands with hospital-themed shorts
The Alicante Smartphone Film Festival showcases competition shorts created entirely on mobile phones, bringing a fresh, accessible approach to filmmaking. In stunning fashion, the event opens a doorway into the audiovisual world for young people currently in hospital care, turning a hospital classroom into a vibrant movie set. The experience lets admitted boys and girls watch scenes from their favorite films and even step into those moments themselves, transforming the hospital environment into a space of creativity and imagination.
During the festival’s second edition, organizers highlighted stories set within hospital settings. An ambitious chroma key project demonstrated how color and lighting can transport participants into cinematic worlds, including scenes inspired by popular franchises. The interactive format invites participants to engage with film-making techniques while exploring storytelling in a compassionate and educational context.
Another planned activity drew inspiration from a renowned fantasy universe, where participants imagined epic duels with light-based effects and familiar character silhouettes. Additional scenes drew on swashbuckling adventures where hospital teens could rehearse against iconic antagonists and heroes, promoting teamwork, courage, and creative play.
The Oncology unit of the Pediatric Service at Doctor Balmis General Hospital in Alicante has long integrated arts and media into its care programs. The unit is guided by a physician with a deep passion for cinema and pediatric education, who supports initiatives that connect medical care with creative expression. This approach underscores the belief that storytelling and visual media can complement clinical treatment, offering emotional support and inspiration to young patients and their families.