Premiering at the 2025 Raindance Film Festival, Our Journey with Lobular Cancer is more than just a documentary—it is a poignant and deeply personal chronicle of courage, advocacy, and scientific urgency. Directed by Tristan Loraine and produced by Fact Not Fiction Films, the film brings overdue attention to Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer (ILC), a condition affecting thousands each day but woefully under-researched and frequently misdiagnosed.

The documentary centers around Dr. Susan Michaelis, a former aviation safety researcher diagnosed with ILC in 2013. Her battle with the disease becomes a catalyst for a much larger mission: the launch of the Lobular Moon Shot Project, an ambitious campaign to raise £20 million for targeted ILC research. Michaelis’ strength and tenacity—combined with Loraine’s investigative storytelling—make for a compelling and emotionally resonant viewing experience.

Loraine, who brings a strong pedigree in socially conscious filmmaking, crafts a narrative that deftly balances science and human emotion. Through intimate interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses of grassroots campaigning, we follow the lives of 22 women diagnosed with lobular breast cancer, symbolizing the 22 new cases diagnosed daily in the UK. Their upcoming petition delivery to Downing Street on June 24 adds a powerful political edge to the film’s already stirring message.

At its heart, Our Journey with Lobular Cancer is a documentary about visibility—of a disease often missed by traditional imaging, and of the women whose experiences are frequently sidelined in broader breast cancer discourse. The film succeeds not only in raising awareness but also in mobilizing support for scientific innovation. Its partnership with the Manchester Breast Centre and the University of Manchester signals a serious, solutions-driven approach to tackling ILC.

Fact Not Fiction Films continues its tradition of tackling matters of public concern with integrity and passion. With its world premiere at Raindance—a festival known for championing independent voices—this film is well-positioned to spark conversations and catalyze real-world action.

In a time when so much attention is rightly being paid to medical research and health equity, Our Journey with Lobular Cancer is an essential, stirring contribution to the documentary genre. It is not just a story of disease—it’s a story of determination, solidarity, and hope.

A vital and moving documentary that gives voice to a silent epidemic—and the women fighting to change its future.

Sally Brown