A new short film, “The Rhythm of the Crescent Moon,” premiered December 4th in Milan, Italy, aiming to bring increased visibility to sickle cell disease, an frequently enough-overlooked inherited blood disorder affecting millions globally[[1]]. The film,a winner of a contest supported by vertex Pharmaceuticals and the Italian Society for Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies,utilizes artistic storytelling to depict the realities of living with the condition. This project is part of a growing effort to address the challenges faced by patients with hemoglobinopathies, which require lifelong medical management[[2]].
A new short film, “The Rhythm of the Crescent Moon,” aims to raise awareness of sickle cell disease, a rare and often overlooked genetic condition. The film premiered in Milan, Italy, at the Anteo Palazzo del Cinema on December 4, and was the winner of a contest launched by the Italian Society for Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies (Site) in collaboration with the Lombardy branch of the Experimental Cinematography Center (CSC), with unconditional support from Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
The film, created by CSC student Mirko Rodio, is described as an artistic and symbolic portrayal of the complexities of sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that often manifests in early childhood and significantly impacts daily life, according to Dr. Giovan Battista Ruffo, Director of the Hematology and Thalassemia Unit at Arnas Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli in Palermo and a member of the Site Board of Directors. “It is crucial to promote information and awareness to understand the real impact of this disease and the need for ongoing support for the patient community,” Dr. Ruffo said. “Projects like this help bridge the gap between what is seen and what is not, bringing to light stories that deserve to be heard.”
The project is part of a broader collaboration between Site and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, initiated in 2024, to highlight the realities faced by patients with beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease – inherited blood disorders that often remain invisible to society. These conditions require consistent medical care, energy, and can limit personal freedom. By involving emerging filmmakers from the CSC, the campaign is evolving and reaching wider audiences with contemporary approaches.
Maurizio Nichetti, Artistic Director of the CSC Lombardy branch, emphasized the challenges of portraying a disease through film. “Telling a story about a disease through cinema is a complex task, because it requires delicacy, respect, and at the same time creativity,” Nichetti observed. “The students were able to transform such a sensitive topic into a work that is both moving and thought-provoking, demonstrating the power of art to address health issues and connect the public with unfamiliar realities.”
Vertex Pharmaceuticals expressed pride in supporting a project that empathetically portrays sickle cell disease. “We are proud to support a project capable of telling the story of a rare and complex disease like sickle cell disease in an empathetic and emotional way,” said Federico Viganò, Country Manager for Italy and Greece at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. “Through the universal language of audiovisual media, we want to contribute to giving a voice to those who are often not heard and to promote greater awareness of this condition, with the aim of improving the quality of life of patients and those who care for them.”
The short film will be available on talassemiatrovalatuastrada.it and will be promoted through a dedicated campaign on digital media and within select cinema circuits. Raising awareness of sickle cell disease is a critical public health goal, as early diagnosis and comprehensive care can significantly improve outcomes for those affected by this challenging condition.
