Photo courtesy of “This Is Endometriosis.”
What you probably already know: A film focusing on an under-researched, underfunded and misunderstood women’s health issue has won a prestigious 2026 BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film. This Is Endometriosis is an approximately hour-long intimate documentary that began as a photographic series by British photographer and filmmaker Georgie Wileman, who suffers from the disease and created images to more authentically represent it. The World Health Organization says it affects an estimated 10% (90 million) women of reproductive age worldwide. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue found only in the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and scar tissue. Symptoms include severe pain during menstruation; heavy menstrual bleeding; chronic pelvic pain; infertility; and abdominal bloating and nausea. There is no cure.
Why it matters: Rather than presenting a staid clinical overview, the film blends first-person narrative, self-shot footage, archive material and photography to show how the disease “robbed Wileman of time” and impacted her life and body. The images are vivid and arresting. The film painstakingly documents the emotional, physical and social realities of living with endometriosis, including misdiagnosis, the disease’s psychological toll and the persistence of sufferers who must battle through persistent pain. The filmmakers say it’s as much about validation, visibility and community as it is about raising awareness of the condition itself. Besides Wileman, listed winners are filmmaker Matt Houghton (who co-directed with Wileman) and producer Harriette Wright.
What it means: Besides the BAFTA Award, the film has make the rounds on the festival circuit. It was nominated for a 2025 Grierson Award, won a Gold Shark at Kinsale and was honored at the Webby Awards. It has since been released for mass distribution and is free to watch on Vimeo. The creators note that viewers, especially those with endometriosis, have described the film as “impactful, validating, honest and relatable,” as it offers visibility to experiences that are too often ignored or misunderstood. It has received widespread acclaim in journalistic circles, with women’s-oriented media site Shethepeople describing it as a “wake-up call” that exposes the “brutal reality” of the disease.
What happens next: The documentary began as a volunteer-driven project and continues to encourage community participation (think social media campaigns — #thisisendometriosis) to raise visibility and break stigma. While not specific to the film, people can join organizations to promote awareness and education, including the Endometriosis Association of America, a comprehensive nonprofit holding an in-person and virtual event March 7 and 8 called “Mapping Pain: Pelvis to Brain” (registration required). The This Is Endometriosis site features ways to donate to the ongoing movement and urges those who want to organize community screenings to contact the creators through the website.
