The new documentary Unmasking Influence exposes how powerful industries shape global public health policy, often putting profits ahead of people. Produced by the Wildfire Collective in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the film explores how corporate actors across sectors like alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and food systematically influence science, regulation, and public perception. Through striking visuals and expert storytelling, director John Kelly brings to life the lived experiences of researchers and advocates who have witnessed these tactics firsthand, revealing the human and societal costs of corporate power.

Premiering at the Irish Film Institute during the Festival of Prevention in June 2025, the film’s debut was hosted by Alcohol Forum Ireland in partnership with ICAAN. The event gathered researchers, policymakers, and public health advocates to discuss the strategies that commercial actors use to shape policy outcomes and weaken prevention efforts. The screening sparked vital conversations about accountability, transparency, and the urgent need to resist manipulative industry narratives that downplay harm or delay regulation.

A London launch followed in July 2025 at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where a panel featuring the filmmakers, scientists, and journalists deepened the dialogue on how these influences operate. The discussion emphasized the growing body of evidence showing how corporate lobbying, sponsored science, and strategic messaging obstruct health-protective policies. The film’s combination of personal testimony, investigative depth, and artistic storytelling made the London screening a landmark moment for advocates seeking systemic change in public health governance.

By connecting its themes to alcohol – a leading risk factor for ill health in Europe, responsible for nearly 800,000 deaths each year – Unmasking Influence also highlights how industry tactics continue to block lifesaving interventions. Despite clear evidence of effective policies like taxation, marketing restrictions, and labeling, the alcohol industry’s influence often delays progress. The documentary stands as both a warning and a call to action: to unmask these forces, understand their reach, and empower communities and decision-makers to act for health, not profit.

Find more from Wildfire Collective (2025)