When Covid-19 struck, hospital staff found themselves on the front line. The First Wave documents the first four months of the Covid-19 pandemic as experienced by New York City’s emergency medical workers. covid:aid is partnering together with Dogwoof for the film’s UK release on Friday 26th November.
With exclusive access to one of New York’s hardest hit hospital systems, Oscar-nominated and Emmy Award–winning director Matthew Heineman’s The First Wave spotlights the everyday heroes at the epicentre of COVID-19 as they come together to fight one of the greatest threats the world has ever encountered.
With Heineman’s signature character-driven and observational approach, The First Wave documents those harrowing first four months, embedding with a group of doctors, nurses, and patients on the frontlines as they all navigated the crisis. Their distinct storylines each serve as a microcosm through which we can view the emotional and societal impacts of the pandemic, and are a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
covid:aid Founder and Chief Executive Michael MacLennan said: “covid:aid is delighted to support on the UK release of The First Wave: it’s a stunning documentary, a microcosm of the amazing efforts of everyday heroes in hospitals around the world.
“As the UK’s national Covid-19 charity, we recently embarked on our own #CovidHeroes campaign for the public to nominate their own everyday heroes, and watching The First Wave I don’t think you can help but be tremendously moved by the stories at its heart – and consider how much people have been through, and the amazing things achieved in the face of such adversity.
“At a time when some downplay the effect that the coronavirus pandemic has had on us and our heroics doctors, nurses, and hospital staff, the release of The First Wave couldn’t be more timely.”
The First Wave is being released by Dogwoof, and is released in UK cinemas on Friday 26th November. Find more information and get tickets at: thefirstwavefilm.co.uk
If you’re inspired by the efforts of the amazing everyday heroes in The First Wave, covid:aid invites you to nominate your own at: covidaidcharity.org/covidheroes
