Inspiring Future Generations by Cracking the Code
There are many stories to be told. Sometimes the ones that make the greatest impact are those which are rooted in reality. To tell these tales with the appropriate respect, drama, and gravitas takes filmmakers who possess both talent and determination to shine a light on reality. Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp & The Biotech Revolution is a documentary film which has attracted some of the most gifted filmmakers in the industry like Oscar Nominee Mark Ruffalo, Silver Hugo Award Winning Director Bill Haney, Producer Carina Chavda, and others. The incredible journey of Phil Sharp from Kentucky farm boy to Nobel Prize winner for his discoveries in the biotech industry which led to miraculous advancements for Billions of people, Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp & The Biotech Revolution is an encouraging depiction of the massive positive effect one person can have and the importance of a society in supporting the cultivation of such genius. Currently airing on PBS, this is the kind of film that is not only informative but also inspiring in what can be achieved in the brilliant complexity of the human mind.
The current prominence of the biotech revolution is put into context through the contributions in the career of Phil Sharp whose revolutionary discovery of RNA splicing in the late 1970s caused a seismic shift in the field of molecular biology. Narrated by four-time Oscar Award–Nominee Mark Ruffalo, this film pays testimony to the American dream that an individual is unrestricted in the heights that may be attained through hard work and talent. An exploration of his life’s work, Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp & The Biotech Revolution displays how one humble yet brilliant man has transformed the health of billions of patients worldwide while also laying the foundation for an industry that has become a cornerstone of global innovation and economic growth. This film communicates that there truly can be a benevolent symbiotic relationship between technology and fiscal benefit.
Mr. Sharp and his work are the topical focus of this film. Mark Ruffalo is its voice. The guiding hand of this production comes from Director Bill Haney and Producer Carina Chavda. Mr. Haney is a filmmaker, inventor and entrepreneur. As a writer, director and producer of both narrative and documentary films, he has won The Gabriel Prize, A Silver Hugo, The Earthwatch Award, A Marine Conservation Award, and an Amnesty International Award. Chosen as Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum, he has won a Humanitarian Award from Harvard Medical School, a Distinguished Service Award from the Senior Olympics, the Slow Food Prize, a Genesis Award, an Achievement Award from the ACLU, and has been repeatedly nominated for the NAACP Image Award, in addition to being shortlisted for an Oscar and winning the Pare Lorentz Award. Bill’s portfolio as a film maker includes award-winning documentaries on socially important subjects such as coal mining (The Last Mountain, 2011) and worker exploitation (The Price of Sugar, 2007) and his work as writer/producer on Tim Disney’s civil rights drama, American Violet. To help successfully achieve his vision for Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp & The Biotech Revolution, Mr. Haney enlisted Carina Chavda whose acclaim in India is unsurpassed as a producer. The goal was to create a film rooted in history but relevant to today’s world; an inspirational story that compels younger generations to pursue the sciences and highlights the nobility of scientists who work every day to help find cures for diseases. Ms. Chavda communicates, “My documentary work with films such as Saving Saffron showed off my skills to execute even with smaller budgets and limited resources. I am great at chasing the story and knowing what it takes to produce in a way that supports the director and allows them to focus on the creativity of a film. There’s a great deal of practicality to my work: budget, logistics, legal aspects, distribution, and the like, but so much of my work is about understanding intent and manifesting this. For this film, I helped turn complex science into a clear, human story – linking Phil Sharp’s life to RNA splicing so anyone could follow it. By hiring and working closely with animators to help explain the science behind the Nobel prize discovery, I led the science animation process with expert reviews to ensure accuracy. I spent months finding archival material to help base this story in accurate history and relevant information to help further the narrative. It was necessary to clear archival media, track rights, and delivered PBS-ready masters – catching issues before the national broadcast on October 6, 2025.” The results of her efforts are undeniable as Nicol empowered this documentary to be one infused with deep emotion. Rather than a tale of cold data and formulas, Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp & The Biotech Revolution is a story of overcoming odds and the tenacious spirit which leads to true medical progress for all mankind.
The outpouring of admiration for this film is astonishing. Awards were received from the 2025 Documentary Film Festival (Best Feature Documentary, Best Science/Educational Documentary), the Berlin Indie Film Festival, the XXI International Festival of Red Cross & Health Films (Best Screenplay), the Raw Science Film Festival (Raw Radiance Award); the list goes on and on. A number of the more than one hundred screenings of Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp & The Biotech Revolution have featured a Q&A with director Bill Haney and Mr. Sharp. Producer Carina Chavda remarks, “There’s a part of me which is very happy about the educational aspect of our film but I have to admit that hearing the audience laugh at all of the right moments and come up to me after the screening and talk about how inspiring it was, is one of the most validating experiences for me. The editing process was very long and involved. I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved as filmmakers, blending information and emotion for this amazing story.”
Writer : Calvin Hooney
