A fresh documentary examines how artificial intelligence and groundbreaking science are reshaping healthcare, with a premiere on PBS SoCal in September ahead of a nationwide public television broadcast.
“Today, we are seeing an incredible fusion of biology, computing, and AI that is set to transform medicine. This film is about optimism—and stretching the limits of what we can achieve.”— Shaun MacGillivray, Director/Producer, MacGillivray Freeman Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films, together with PBS SoCal, has revealed that Data Cure: Stories of Healing and Hope, a documentary narrated and executive produced by Grammy-nominated musician, entrepreneur, and biotech investor Aloe Blacc, is now complete. The film will debut on PBS SoCal in September 2026, followed by a national public television rollout through NETA and other public media partners.
With the World Health Organization issuing warnings that antimicrobial resistance could become a leading global cause of death by 2050, Data Cure places a spotlight on the researchers, innovators, and patients who are striving to advance medicine and avert a future where common infections, surgical procedures, and cancer treatments once again pose fatal threats.
Central to the documentary is the compelling account of Dr. Steffanie Strathdee and her husband, Tom Patterson. After Patterson contracted a dangerous antibiotic-resistant infection, Strathdee embarked on a worldwide hunt for an experimental remedy, which culminated in the first successful intravenous bacteriophage therapy ever used in the United States. Their extraordinary experience serves as the film’s emotional core and offers a glimpse into an emerging age of medical breakthroughs.
From that starting point, Data Cure transports viewers into some of the foremost research facilities and biotech firms globally, such as Iambic Therapeutics, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Caltech, and Cellino. With exceptional access to scientists, business leaders, doctors, and patients, the documentary reveals how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and next-generation biological therapies are speeding up drug development and unlocking fresh avenues for treating illness.
“Across history, some of humanity’s most significant achievements have come from our capacity to grasp and harness new types of knowledge,” said Shaun MacGillivray, producer and director of Data Cure. “Today, we are witnessing an extraordinary convergence of biology, computing, and artificial intelligence that has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. This film is ultimately about hope—the hope created by scientists and innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and helping millions of people live healthier lives.”
“Music has always been about connecting people through stories, and Data Cure tells one of the most important stories of our time,” said Aloe Blacc, executive producer and narrator. “Behind every scientific breakthrough is a human life, a family, and the hope that tomorrow’s treatments will be better than today’s. I’m honored to help bring these stories to audiences and celebrate the innovators who are changing the future of medicine.”
Mixing deeply personal narratives with advanced science, Data Cure examines one of the era’s defining challenges while offering an optimistic outlook for what lies ahead. The film highlights the researchers racing to outsmart antibiotic-resistant superbugs, the entrepreneurs constructing the next wave of medical technologies, and the patients whose lives are already being transformed by these advances.
“The pace of innovation in medicine today is extraordinary,” said Michael Langer, co-founder and managing partner of T.Rx Capital and executive producer of Data Cure. “As an investor, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand how artificial intelligence and biotechnology are reshaping medicine. This film gives audiences a rare look at the scientists, entrepreneurs, and patients driving that transformation—and the hope it brings to millions of people.”
The film’s executive producing team consists of Aloe Blacc, Michael Langer, and Paul Bartick. Langer previously served as executive producer of the IMAX documentary Superhuman Body, narrated by Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey, and brings a background spanning biotechnology, venture capital, and science storytelling.
Produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films in partnership with PBS SoCal, Data Cure: Stories of Healing and Hope combines compelling human stories with groundbreaking scientific discoveries to create an urgent and optimistic look at the future of medicine.
Additional broadcast details, educational outreach initiatives, and broader distribution plans will be announced in the coming months as the film prepares for its public television rollout.
About MacGillivray Freeman Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world’s leading independent producer and distributor of giant screen films, with more than $1 billion in worldwide box office ticket sales. For more than five decades, the company has created immersive documentaries that inspire audiences through breathtaking cinematography and powerful storytelling. Its acclaimed films include Everest, National Parks Adventure, America’s Musical Journey, Dream Big: Engineering Our World, Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels, Humpback Whales, and many others. Two of the company’s films, The Living Sea and Dolphins, received Academy Award® nominations for Best Documentary Short Subject, while Everest remains the highest-grossing giant screen documentary of all time.
Lori Rick
MacGillivray Freeman Films
lrick@macfreefilms.com
Data Cure: Stories of Healing and Hope – Official Trailer
