SickKids Foundation: Anthem

A tough watch about tough kids, this powerful PSA, created by Cossette and directed by Skin and Bones’ Mark Zibert, expresses the bravery of children fighting disease and injury everyday at Toronto’s SickKids Hospital.

Against an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack (Undeniable by Donnie Daydream), images portraying babies and children undergoing surgery, anguished parents waiting, kids strapping on prosthetic limbs and heroic medics preparing for surgery are intercut with conventional symbols of bravery – cinematic visions of gladiators, of soldiers marching into war, of ironmen roaring. The message ‘sick isn’t weak’ flashes up to undercut these epic stories of courage and tenacity that occur everyday at the hospital.

It's an intense, breathtaking film that takes a refreshingly unsentimental approach to its subject, while undeniably packing a punch. All the children appearing in the film are current or former patients at the hospital.