Fleming Initiative hosts special advanced screening of 'AMR - Dying to Change the World'

Guest blog originally published by The AMR Narrative. Vanessa Carter is the Founder and Executive Director of The AMR Narrative, Chair of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors, and was a featured panellist at the Fleming Initiative hosted screening of 'AMR - Dying to Change the World'.

The Fleming Initiative hosted its special advanced screening at Curzon Bloomsbury, London.

The Fleming Initiative hosted its special advanced screening at Curzon Bloomsbury, London.

The Fleming Initiative produced posters to raise awareness of AMR throughout the venue.

The Fleming Initiative produced posters to raise awareness of AMR throughout the venue.

The Fleming Initiative produced posters to raise awareness of AMR throughout the venue.

Credit: Jack Cooper

Credit: Jack Cooper

Credit: Jack Cooper

The Fleming Initiative's guests wait for Lord Darzi's opening remarks.

Lord Darzi gives his opening remarks at the Fleming Initiative's special advanced screening.

Dame Sally Davies introduces panellists for the pre-screening discussion.

Ashley Dalton MP addresses the panellists with her support for action against AMR.

The Fleming Initiative's guests listen to the pre-screening panel discussion.

Vanessa Carter shares her experiences during the pre-screening discussion.

Professor Holmes, the Fleming Initiative's Director, gives closing remarks.

Photo credits: Jack Cooper (Fleming Initiative) and Laura Horga (Institute of Global Health Innovation)

Our Founder and Executive Director, Vanessa Carter, had the privilege of attending an exclusive pre-screening of 'AMR – Dying to Change the World' on March 11, 2025. Hosted by the Fleming Initiative at the Curzon Theatre in Bloomsbury, London, the event showcased the compelling feature-length documentary on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by filmmaker Alex Tweddle, made possible through the generous support of Dr. Yusuf Hamied.

The evening opened with an insightful address from Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, a distinguished surgeon and Executive Chair of the Fleming Initiative, as well as a featured speaker in the film. He emphasised the profound impact of media and the arts in engaging the public with complex global issues, drawing parallels with movements such as climate change advocacy.

Following this, Dame Sally Davies, the UK Government’s Special Envoy on AMR and former Chief Medical Officer for England (2010–2019), led a dynamic panel discussion. Among the panellists was Vanessa, who shared her personal experience of surviving a life-threatening antibiotic-resistant infection.

She underscored the importance of raising awareness through media and the arts, as well as engaging patients and communities on the ground to gain deeper insights into their experiences. She further discussed the importance of patient advocacy and why The AMR Narrative had a strong focus on developing capacity around that.

As the inaugural Chair of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors, Vanessa also emphasised that storytelling could play a vital role in highlighting the human impact for policymaking, medical education and research as outlined in their Meaningful Engagement of Patients, Survivors and Carers in addressing Antimicrobial Resistance Guidance Document.

Adding to the discussion, Alex Tweddle revealed that his own mother tragically passed away from a resistant form of sepsis during the documentary’s production—an emotional reminder of the urgency of this crisis. These deeply personal experiences reinforced the need for immediate, collective action.

Narrated by actor Brian Cox, 'AMR – Dying to Change the World' offers a powerful exploration of antimicrobial resistance, weaving together expert analysis and real-world stories to highlight the devastating impact of AMR infections. The film examines key drivers of AMR, including the inappropriate use of antibiotics in agriculture, the prevalence of substandard medications—particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs)—and the rapid global spread of resistant infections.

The documentary features prominent scientific voices in the fight against AMR as well as patients with lived experience and calls for urgent worldwide action. By blending scientific insight with human stories, it transforms a complex medical challenge into an accessible and compelling narrative.

More than just a film, 'AMR – Dying to Change the World' is a rallying cry. It vividly demonstrates that the fight against infections that no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, is not solely a scientific endeavour—it requires global engagement, policy reform, and individual action. As the documentary makes clear, the consequences of inaction are dire to all of us, and the time to act is now.

About the Fleming Initiative

Jointly established by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the Fleming Initiative brings together research scientists, policymakers, clinicians, behavioural experts, public and commercial partners to provide the networks, expertise and skills to provide equitable solutions to AMR at a global scale.

About The AMR Narrative

The AMR Narrative is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that works to develop advocacy capacity, raise awareness and promote community development among patients and the public to improve participation and mobilise action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

About the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a Task Force of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Survivors in 2023 to give a platform for and elevate the voices of those with a lived experience of drug resistant infections. The members of the Task Force serve as champions to shape the global narrative and influence policies. Additionally, they contribute to messaging by giving a ‘human face’ to AMR alongside increasing awareness.