Film in Hospital Presented at the European Parliament
Brussels, 25 June 2026
On 25 June, Film in Hospital was presented at the European Parliament during the event Supporting Children’s Mental Health During Hospitalisation: The Role of Culture and Film, hosted by MEP Tomislav Sokol.
The discussion brought together representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission, healthcare institutions, cultural organisations, researchers and civil society to explore how cultural participation can support children’s wellbeing during hospitalisation.
One message resonated throughout the event:
Children do not stop being children when they become patients.
Over the past decade, Film in Hospital has grown into a European network active in 12 countries, connecting culture, health and education through national film platforms, film education, workshops and shared cultural experiences in 135 hospitals and healthcare institutions.
The programme featured contributions from Tomislav Sokol (European Parliament), Monica Urian (European Commission), Kornelia Kiss (Culture Action Europe), Edita Bilaver (Film in Hospital), Kristina Kužnik (University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice) and Iris Verhoeven (JEF Belgium), who presented the development of the European cooperation model and the network’s future ambitions.
The discussion highlighted the growing recognition of cultural participation as an important component of children’s wellbeing during hospitalisation and demonstrated how Film in Hospital has evolved into a practical European model connecting culture, health and education.
Participants also emphasised the importance of strengthening collaboration between the cultural, healthcare, education and research sectors, while further developing the evidence base and expanding the network across Europe.
As Film in Hospital continues to grow, partners remain committed to working together to ensure that every child, regardless of where they receive treatment, can continue to experience culture, creativity and participation as part of childhood.
Photo: Simon Blackley
