Celestin Mutuyimana researches trauma at the University of Zurich, sits on the Executive Board of the Swiss Young Academy and made the film “Hear My Voice”. | Illustration: Klub Galopp

I never imagined, as a scientist, that making a film would be one of the most challenging and revealing experiences of my academic career. In my research on trauma survivors, I’ve involved participants not only in sharing their experiences but also in shaping solutions – recognising them as experts of their own lives. Many participants were eager to speak out and participate in my film. They say it is a way to elevate their voices and the voices of others going through the same experience.

Filmmaking is a powerful tool for translating research findings into a language that is accessible regardless of one’s level of education. It allows research to move beyond technical reports and statistics and to become something that can be seen, heard and felt. In film, numbers become human again, and data are transformed into stories that foster empathy, awareness and meaningful dialogue, which is something traditional academic outputs often struggle to achieve.

When I apply for scientific funding, however, the responses are polite but discouraging: “We believe your project would be better suited to arts or filmmaking funding schemes”. When I turn to them, it is only to receive a different but equally frustrating answer: “Your topic fits better within scientific funding frameworks”.

When I tried to submit a 20-minute scientific film to a conference, I was only given two to three minutes. People making slide  presentations – the only means of communication we are trained in – were given the full 20 minutes. There’s still no way to cite scientific films and they remain unrecognised in academia. It’s as if they are extracurricular, carried out on evenings or at weekends at one’s own personal cost. They are considered to be mere outreach rather than a legitimate scientific output. Scientific films remain uncitable and unrecognised in academia. They become an extra activity, carried out in evenings or weekends and with costs absorbed personally.

Yet films can translate complex findings into accessible narratives, reach policymakers, inform public debate and amplify the societal impact of research goals that Swiss science strongly values. We need policy-level support. This would not only empower scientists but also strengthen Switzerland’s position as a leader in innovative, socially engaged research. Sometimes, it truly takes a camera to reach the world.