24/364 Rare Disease Film Festival to Debut in San Diego, Inviting Audiences to See Life Beyond the Disease

Inaugural event to unite patients, caregivers, advocates, researchers, filmmakers, and industry leaders in March 2027

CHICAGO & NEW YORK & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CG Life and 24/364 officially launched the inaugural 24/364 Rare Disease Film Festival (RDFF), a first-of-its-kind cultural event dedicated to amplifying the voices of people living with rare diseases, those who care for and support them, and those working to find answers. While more than 300 million people worldwide live with a rare disease, their stories are too often unseen outside of awareness campaigns, clinical settings, and patient communities. Through the power of film, the Festival will create a new platform for those experiences to be shared, celebrated, and understood.

The two-day Festival will take place March 12–13, 2027, in San Diego. The Festival is now accepting submissions from professional and amateur filmmakers, emerging creators, patients, caregivers, advocates, and community storytellers whose work explores the lived experience of rare disease. Visit 24364.life for film submission details and guidelines.

“Film has an unparalleled ability to connect people through emotion, humanity, and shared experience,” said 24/364 RDFF Director Jon Fitzgerald, Founder of Cause Pictures. “Our goal is to create a Festival that not only recognizes outstanding filmmaking but also sparks meaningful conversations and deeper understanding about resilience, caregiving, belonging, identity, and the realities of living with a rare disease. These are stories that deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated.”

“The 24/364 Rare Disease Film Festival is founded on a simple belief: breakthrough science can change lives, but so can stories,” said Erik Clausen, Managing Director, Strategic Communications Group at CG Life. “We want audiences to leave inspired by resilience, bonded through shared humanity, and motivated to support the ongoing pursuit of increased disease awareness, understanding, scientific innovation, and hope.”

The event will bring together people and organizations committed to advancing rare disease awareness, research, and care for a unique program of screenings, discussions, networking events, and awards presentations. The Festival will open on Friday, March 12, with a reception honoring distinguished leaders and contributors from across the rare disease community. The event will feature a brief program and Festival preview, and a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres.

On Saturday, March 13, attendees will participate in a full day of programming, beginning with a panel featuring Festival jury members and distinguished guests. Films will be screened throughout the day in two adjacent theaters. The Festival will conclude with an evening reception for VIPs, stakeholders, and filmmakers, featuring film award presentations and advocacy-focused community programming.

“While every story of living with a rare disease is different, our team has worked with hundreds of individuals and families who have offered to share their stories for the same heroic reason – they want to make the journey easier for others,” said Bill Berry, SVP in the Strategic Communications Group at CG Life and a specialist in advocacy communications in rare diseases. “The 24/364 Rare Disease Film Festival will help more of these stories to reach and inspire people around the world.”

“Scientific innovation is transforming what is possible for people living with rare diseases, but awareness and understanding often lag behind the science,” said David Ormesher, CEO of CG Life, which created 24/364. “For too long, rare disease awareness has been concentrated into moments. Real lives don’t operate on awareness calendars. The Festival is an important part of our larger effort to create year-round visibility for the people, families, and communities living these experiences every day.”

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for organizations that would benefit from engaging a diverse audience while amplifying voices within the rare disease community. Interested parties are encouraged to contact [e-mail] for more information.

About 24/364

24/364 is a platform created by CG Life to bring year-round visibility to the lived experience of rare disease. Through storytelling, education, and experiences, the 24/364 brand drives awareness, connection, and action to keep rare disease at the forefront of health and social conversation every day of the year. Learn more at 24364.life.

About CG Life

Founded in 2003, CG Life is a specialized pharma agency built for the unique challenges of bringing therapies for rare and hard-to-treat diseases to market, where traditional commercialization models often fall short. CG Life partners with biopharma companies to navigate the complexity of rare disease commercial launches by combining deep scientific expertise, strategy-led activation of physician and patient communities, and results-driven engagement to support what's best for patients. The result is faster, more effective launches in markets where insight, creativity, and credibility determine success. Begin your journey at CGLife.com.