Dementia Film Nominated For Bafta Award

A documentary following a couple’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease has been nominated for a Bafta television award.

Malcolm & Barbara: Loves Farewell followed Malcolm and Barbara Pointon from his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease through to his final days. It was originally aired on August 8th 2007.

The programme has been nominated in the category of best single documentary for the awards which will be held at the London Palladium on Sunday 20th April.

Jo Swinhoe, director of fundraising and marketing for the Alzheimer’s Society, issued a statement when the programme was initially aired. She said: “We hope their brave decision will shine a light on the fact that dementia is a terminal condition that is currently desperately under funded and misunderstood.”

The film took 11 years to make and was shot, directed and edited by film-maker Paul Watson.

Figures from the Alzheimer’s Society show the disease and also dementia affect 700,000 people in the UK as well as millions more carers.

Since the documentary was aired, Barbara Pointon has been made a government advisor on dementia.