The Invisibility of Pain
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The Invisibility of Pain

Sickle cell disease is an invisible illness that impacts thousands of people worldwide, but it doesn't have to be that way. Let's make the invisible visible and raise so...

Sickle cell disease is an invisible illness that impacts thousands of people worldwide, but it doesn't have to be that way. Let's make the invisible visible and raise social awareness.

The pain of sickle cell anemia is rarely visible. It leaves no visible marks, doesn't show up on X-rays, and often goes unnoticed by outsiders. But for thousands of people, this pain is a constant, intense, and profoundly limiting presence. It's a reality lived in silence, frequently misunderstood and made invisible by society.

This documentary was born from the need to give a voice to those who are so often unheard. We want to tell real stories of people living with sickle cell disease and show not only the physical challenges of the illness, but also the emotional, social, and familial impact it has. We want to break down prejudices, increase public awareness, and promote greater empathy for those who face this condition daily.

Our goal is to transform invisibility into recognition, contributing to a more informed and conscious society. We believe that change begins when people learn the stories that remain hidden.

But for this documentary to become a reality, we need your help. Producing a work with the quality, rigor, and scope that this topic deserves involves costs for research, travel, filming, editing, and distribution. As an independent project, we depend on the support of people who believe in the importance of giving visibility to causes that remain on the margins of public attention.

Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings us closer to this goal. By supporting this campaign, you are not just funding a documentary. You are helping to give a voice to those who live with pain every day, combating ignorance, and creating an awareness tool that can impact many lives.

Join us. Contribute, share this campaign, and be part of this change. Because an invisible pain only remains invisible as long as no one shows it.

About the author

The Portuguese Association of Parents and Patients with Hemoglobinopathies (APPDH) is a Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS) founded in the mid-1990s with the purpose of supporting patients with hemoglobinopathies, genetic diseases that affect hemoglobin, such as Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia , and their families.

Our mission focuses on improving the quality of life of patients, acting on multiple fronts: medical, social, family, school and work. The association functions as a link between patients, families and health professionals, promoting access to appropriate care and combating the isolation and misinformation associated with these pathologies.

Throughout our existence, APPDH has developed awareness initiatives for the general public and health entities, contributing to greater visibility for these rare diseases in Portugal. Currently, the association is producing a documentary dedicated to portraying the reality experienced by patients, with the aim of raising awareness in Portuguese society about the daily challenges faced by those living with hemoglobinopathies.

Budget and due dates

PRE-PRODUCTION
Information research
* Information organization
* Scriptwriting
* Contacts

PRODUCTION
* Creating interviews
* Interview Filming
* Illustrative/contextual images shown
B-roll/performance driving
* Direct sound recording
* Depreciation of video equipment
Depreciation of sound equipment
* Depreciation of lighting equipment
* Creating narrative text
* Studio narration recording
Audio studio rental
Food and transportation
* Insurance
* Consumables

POST PRODUCTION
Narrative construction
Image (video) editing
* Motion design
* Direct sound mastering
* Graphic design/creation
* Original soundtrack composition
Musicians' fees
* Subtitles in Portuguese
* English subtitles

DISTRIBUTION
Copyright
* Display fees and SPA
* Submission to national and international film festivals
* Online and offline marketing campaigns to promote the film

Sat, 04/07/2026 - 10:59

Sat, 20/06/2026 - 17:44

First five backers

We've gathered the first 5 backers. Hurray!

Campaign launched

19/06/2026

11 members of the PPL community
support this campaign

  • 10
    new backers

  • 1
    recurrent backer

  • 3
    anonymous backers

Meet the people helping this dream come true