In this interview, former airline captain turned filmmaker Tristan Loraine talks about his two documentaries – This Is Your Captain Speaking and Our Journey with Lobular Cancer – that will be making their world premiere at the 2025 Raindance Film Festival this June.

Your route into filmmaking is quite unique. Can you tell us about your journey into becoming a filmmaker?

In 2006, I was ill health retired from being an airline Captain. I was only 44 and I felt the travelling public should know about the issues that had caused me to loose my dream career, just a year after doing the Ironman triathlon. I wanted to make a documentary about it, so I went to Raindance in London and their boss Elliott Grove helped train me to make films. After that, I went to the National Film and Television School to do more specialised courses. My first documentary came out in 2007 and was entitled ‘Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines’. It was not a masterpiece but in the UK it triggered calls for a Public Enquiry into the issue of air quality on aircraft. That told me about the power documentary films can have. Nearly 20 years later, and having made 40 docs, films and shorts, I feel I have learnt a lot more and hopefully now make better films.

What were the biggest challenges of making this change into documentary filmmaking?

There are many similarities between being an airline Captain and being a film producer – ultimately you’re managing people. Training to be a director was harder. I found it helpful to watch what others had done and how they had told stories. This helps you become more creative.

Was there anything that caught you by surprise?

You have to think on your feet. I once went to the Lords for an hour’s slot to interview a Lord. On arrival, I was told we had 8 minutes. That’s when you have to ‘Improvise, adapt and overcome.’ Focus on getting the story, then as many cutaways. To prevent being caught out again, we bring a second camera to cover off such unexpected situations.

Congratulations on having two films premiering at the 33rd Raindance Film Festival. Can you give a brief summary of what the films are about?

The first – ’This Is Your Captain Speaking’ – reveals the evidence of an issue most passengers know nothing about but should. Passengers are being supplied air to breathe that comes from the engines. This air can be contaminated with oils and hydraulic fluids that come with warning labels that include: ‘Suspected of damaging fertility; Prolonged or repeated breathing of oil mist or skin contact can cause nervous system effects; May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure; Suspected of damaging fertility; Suspected of damaging the unborn child; Do not breathe mist or vapor from heated material’ and in very small writing on one it says ‘Suspected of causing cancer’, and yet the air quality is not being monitored at all in flight and passenger are not told when they are exposed or what they are exposed to. On top of that there is the flight safety issue. Pilots have been impaired and incapacitated from oil fume exposure and the industry refuses to fit warning systems to warn the pilots when the air is contaminated. I hope this film will show the travelling public the evidence that exists and positive change will come to bring warning sensors, less hazardous oils and air filtration technology to remove these contaminants.

My second film ‘Our Journey with Lobular Breast Cancer’ looks at the second most common type of breast cancer – lobular breast cancer. A cancer 1,000 people a day are diagnosed with. A cancer that has no specific treatment based on its own unique biology and which rarely shows on a mammogram or ultrasound. The film covers the campaign set up by Dr Susan Michaelis in 2023 to get the British government to fund a £20 million research project to fully understand the basic biology of the disease to pave the way for a specific treatment and better outcomes. The campaign, supported by many incredible people, is known as the Lobular Moon Shot Project and has become the most supported bi-partisan politically supported campaign in the UK with over 355 MPs calling on the Government to fund the work. £20 million may seem like a lot but it’s less than £240 for each person who will be diagnosed with the disease in the next 10 years in the UK alone. This would save the NHS money and ultimately give people better outcomes. I hope this film will educate people about the disease and persuade the Government to fund this vital research into what remains an ‘unmet clinical need.’

What made you want to make a documentary about lobular breast cancer and document your wife’s journey with the diagnosis?

1000 people a day are being diagnosed with a disease that has no specific treatment, a disease that rarely shows on a mammogram. I have met some of these ladies and I wanted to try and do something to help future generations. Life for me is about trying to make a difference.

‘This Is Your Captain Speaking’ tells an alarming case backed by compelling evidence and testimonies. How long did it take to do all the necessary research?

I started researching this story in 2001. The other two experts Dr Susan Michaelis and Judith Anderson have researched it since 1997 and 1999.

Was it emotionally challenging to make documentaries that are so personal to you or does your prior knowledge of the subjects make it easier?

There were some scenes I could not film as it was too hard emotionally. I am grateful to have an amazing cinematographer in Ed White. He knows what I am looking for without having to brief him. The benefit for so many years working together.

What projects will you be working on next?

I want to make a short film called ‘One Day Next Week’ that looks at the lobular breast cancer issue. For this, I need two of the greatest actors ever. So now I am in the hands of casting directors. I also have a heist film which I have been preparing the story for a few years. The script will be completed this year. Finally, another feature called ‘Angel Fleet’, based on a short I made, which the team will pitch at the Birmingham Film Market.


This Is Your Captain Speaking will be making its premiere on June 23rd at the Vue Piccadilly at 4:30pm, with Our Journey with Lobular Cancer premiering the following evening on June 24th at 5pm.