3 ‘Vital Stories’ Films Had World Premieres At Tribeca Festival

Reconstructing Charlie Sheds Light On A Breast Cancer Diagnosis

The dark comedy Reconstructing Charlie follows the main character as she faces a breast cancer diagnosis at a particularly challenging time—while trying to rebuild her life post-divorce. The title “Reconstructing” reflects both her personal journey and the unexpected incorporation of radiation treatment into her “glow up.”

Director and writer Lara Everly, who personally experienced both divorce and breast cancer, succeeded in crafting a film that is both authentic and humorous. Despite the serious premise, the film is peppered with lighter moments, such as Charlie—played by Emily Arlook—tackling a “Boob Bucket List” with her sister, portrayed by Brooke Lyons. The film demonstrates that even serious health issues can be depicted accurately while still engaging and entertaining the audience.

Everly pointed out, “What Hollywood often gets wrong about breast cancer and stories of disease in TV and film is it often shows the most high stakes story. Hollywood loves high stakes but that is not accurate to real life. Not everybody that has cancer is going to die from it.” She highlighted that over 90 percent of women in the U.S. diagnosed with breast cancer are alive five years later, and she aimed to tell a story where the characters survive, even if not all of the breasts do.

Run It Back Shows The Not So Sweet Challenge Of Navigating Re-Entry With Diabetes

Run It Back depicts the challenging re-entry into society after incarceration, with a focus on diabetes management. The short film follows Victoria “Sweet Tea,” played by co-writer Tiffany ‘Tiny’ Cruz, during her first 24 hours out of prison after five years. The transition is far from smooth, with a strict parole officer and her mother’s misunderstanding of insulin needles, which she mistakes for drugs, leading to complications in managing Sweet Tea’s diabetes.

Directors Abby Pierce and Tiffany Cruz drew from real experiences to make the film authentic. Pierce, who taught improvisational theater to incarcerated youth for over six years, and Cruz, who experienced incarceration, infused genuine insights into the narrative. Cruz noted, “When I came out and went through reentry, everything was so different,” highlighting the film’s realism in navigating post-incarceration life.

Do I Know You From Somewhere? Takes Some Action About Alzheimer’s

Do I Know You From Somewhere? offers a unique take on Alzheimer’s, blending action and suspense with a story about caregiving. The film begins with Kimmy, a struggling actor played by writer Angela Wong Carbone, who takes on a gig impersonating strangers’ loved ones to help cover her mother’s Alzheimer’s care costs. However, this role soon becomes risky, introducing unexpected intrigue and challenges.

Carbone emphasized the importance of portraying hope beyond a diagnosis, stating, “I think it’s really important for us to show hope beyond the diagnosis, because so many of these characters on TV, historically don’t have speaking lines.” She drew inspiration from her experience with her great aunt who showed symptoms of Alzheimer’s, highlighting the spectrum of emotions experienced by patients and caregivers.

‘Vital Stories’ Emerged After A Study Found Many Inaccuracies In Hollywood TV And Movies

The three films uniquely captured audiences without feeling like educational pieces. Each story—whether it was Kimmy’s disguises, Sweet Tea’s re-entry, or Charlie’s Boob Bucket List—demonstrated that films can entertain while remaining scientifically accurate.

Despite this, Hollywood often depicts health-related stories inaccurately, as described by Everly. Research by Stacy L. Smith, PhD, from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, supported by Lilly, discovered widespread inaccuracies in portrayals of prevalent health conditions in entertainment. This led to the creation of the Advancing Health Storylines in Popular Entertainment toolkit in 2025.

Tribeca and Lilly utilized this toolkit for the Vital Stories program, beginning with a Creative Summit for 19 selected film teams. Lina Polimeni of Eli Lilly and Company explained the selection process, which included a diverse jury. Ultimately, three projects received funding and support, leading to their premieres at Tribeca.

This initiative showcased the potential for accurate storytelling in films, allowing audiences to laugh at a breast cancer diagnosis, mix diabetes with Sweet Tea, and find action in Alzheimer’s care. The Vital Stories program is a testament to the importance of authentic health narratives in filmmaking.