In Germany, 250,000 people are living with Hepatitis C. Most people living with the disease don't know they have it, and are unaware of risk factors. Hepatitis C can lead to liver disease, cancer, and death. By raising awareness of the disease, we helped increase HCV testing by 62% YOY.

We follow Chris, an average guy on his daily commute home from work. His journey takes a strange turn when, while crossing the road, Chris mistakes a stranger for himself. He begins to have more intense visions, encountering vivid memories of his younger self. Chris panics as the scenarios become more visceral. As he tries to flee from his past, Chris begins to realise the connection. His previous decisions left him at risk of contracting a life-threatening disease. He is left considering; "Could I have been exposed to hepatitis C?"

Hepatitis C has a huge amount of associated stigma. Knowledge of risk factors is minimal, and as 80% of people living with Hepatitis C are symptomless, diagnosis is low. Regulatory bodies, including patient groups and liver specialists, ensured our messaging was scientifically accurate, and realistic around the availability of cure.

Shot on location in Berlin to support the need for a ‘generic European’ setting, the set design included a barber shop and tattoo parlour, both styled to authentically reflect earlier periods in time. Hand-held camera work is used throughout Chris’s journey to add tension and intrigue. As Chris moves from scene to scene, focus pulling draws the audience into the narrative. The careful shot framing – with multiple extreme close-ups – and use of ambient light help to create an intense atmosphere for each scene. Finally, grading added a cinematic feel to the piece by using a desaturated colour palette throughout.

Our partners helped plot and supervise a VFX solution which involved the ‘melding’ of the actors’ two faces in post-production; combining elements of the older and younger to forge new, yet recognisable, versions of the character.

500,000 people die annually from Hepatitis C related diseases. 75% of people living with Hepatitis C don’t know they have it, and the disease can be symptomless for over 20 years. In the general population, many are unaware of Hepatitis-C-associated risk factors and therefore of the possibility of having contracted the disease.

We created an awareness film, launched in Germany, to normalise and destigmatise Hepatitis C. We chose key risk factors – blood transfusions, unprotected sex, unsterile tattoos or razors – to avoid stigmatisation for the viewer.