Novo - The Broken Heart
‘The Broken Heart’ is a 3-minute short film that explores the health consequences of modern life and daily choices.
Crew
Director & concept: Thomas Fink
Producer: Maja Toft Andersen
Executive Producer: Mille Lykke Sørensen
Executive Producer: Mette Bitsch
Actor, male lead: Tobias Steiner
Actor, female lead: Rebecca Langley
DOP: Olav Smidt
1st AC: Villads Sommer
Gaffer: Kasper Morville
Best Boy: Mads Frølich
Lighting assistant: Mathias Hornum
Production Coordinator: Astrid Gott Schmidt
Production Designer: Franz Dahl
Production Designer: Rikke Tvillum
Make-up artist: Clara Alma Margrethe Bielefeldt
Make-up artist: Danielle Vida
Costumier: Emilie Dresler
Grip: Michael Tøt Kromand
Editor: Freddie Smith
Colorgrade: Olav Smidt
Sound design & mix: Kevin Koch
Casting: Tanja Grundwald
Locations: Scouts Honor
Medical advisor: Tina Tanha
Production Company: Novo Nordisk Video & Live Production
Awards
Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2025
Grand Prix for Corporate Media. Black Dolphin for Best Direction. Production Company of the Year, shared with Novo Nordisk. Gold for Branded Content. Silver for Medical, Health and Life Science.
EVCOM London Live & Film Awards 2025
Grand Prix Film. Gold for Brand Communication. Gold for the Creative Direction Award. Gold for Cinematography, shot by Olav Smidt.
Titan Health Awards 2025
Platinum in three categories: Branding, Informational and Medical.
Muse Creative Awards 2025
Platinum for Health & Fitness. Gold for Medical and for Informational.
LIA 2025
Bronze for Direction. Bronze for Cinematography, shot by Olav Smidt.
Epica Awards 2025
Bronze for Public Interest, Health and Safety. Shortlisted for Commercial Direction.
Lisboa Health 2025
Producer of the Year. Bronze for Pharmaceutical.
Clarion Awards 2026
Gold for Health and Wellness films.
CLIO Health Awards 2026
Bronze for Film Craft, Direction. Shortlisted for Films 61 seconds to 5 minutes.
Also shortlisted or selected
TRUE Awards 2025 for Best Editing and Best Cinematography; Shots Awards EMEA 2025 for Editing; Berlin Commercial Awards 2025, official selection.
New York Festivals Health Awards
Finalist in ‘Film, short form’ and ‘Civic & Social Education’.
Film outline
The Broken Heart is a 3-minute short film that explores the health consequences of modern life and daily choices. Through an emotional and relatable narrative, the film tells the story of a man in his early 50s who, from a hospital bed and through a series of flashbacks, takes us through moments of his adult life. The film demonstrates how small, everyday choices accumulate, leading to life-altering consequences.
At its core, The Broken Heart calls to awareness, urging individuals to rethink their priorities and take preventive measures against heart disease. However, the film delivers this message in a subtle, balanced, and understated way, allowing the viewer to naturally arrive at this conclusion rather than presenting it in a direct and didactic manner. With heart disease remaining one of the leading global health concerns, The Broken Heart serves as a compelling reminder that prevention should never be overlooked.
Beyond reflection, the film is designed to engage healthcare professionals and drive interest in Novo Nordisk’s research on heart disease. It positions Novo Nordisk as more than just a pharmaceutical company - it embodies a more holistic approach to health focusing on prevention rather than medicine.
What makes this film innovative is its use of emotional storytelling rather than traditional pharmaceutical or scientific communication. Instead of relying on facts and figures, it allows the audience to feel the importance of prevention, making the message deeply personal and impactful. At the same time, its impact reaches beyond and connects this feeling to Novo Nordisk and its latest research.