Neurodiversity Celebration week was founded by neurodiversity advocate Siena Castellon. According to the Department of Education, 15% of students in the United Kingdom have a learning difference such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia.
This week aims to acknowledge and celebrate the many positive aspects of being neurodiverse and create a more positive perception about what it means to be neurodiverse and to change the educational landscape so that SEN students have positive school experiences. Find out more information on how to get involved here.
Celebrating unique perspectives and the value that comes from different outlooks, Neurodiversity Celebration Week encourages people to recognise the benefits that come with autism and neurodiverse perspectives. Cinemas across the country offer relaxed environment or autism-friendly screenings, with adaptations to make the space more comfortable and accessible for autistic people to enjoy film as individuals or with their families.
Organisations such as the UK Cinema Association, Dimensions, National Autistic Society and FAN have worked with cinemas to support them in welcoming autistic audiences. You can find listings for some cinemas which host Relaxed and/or Autism-Friendly Screenings here and on event listings on the Accessible Screenings website.
Greenock | Fun Film Club at the Waterfront
Dunoon | Autism Friendly screenings at Studio Cinema
London | Relaxed Screenings at BFI Southbank
Leeds | Relaxed Screenings at Hyde Park Picture House
Glasgow | Take 2 Access at Glasgow Film Theatre
Glasgow | Access Film Club at Glasgow Film Theatre
Belfast, Glengormley & Coleraine | Autism friendly screenings at Movie House Cinemas
Stockton | Relaxed performances and screenings at ARC
Dundee | Relaxed Screenings at DCA
Worthing | Autism Friendly screenings at Worthing Theatres
Neath | Relaxed Screenings at Gwyn Hall
Walsall, Dudley, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester & Coventry | Autism Friendly Screenings at Showcase Cinemas
Saffron Walden | Relaxed Screenings at Saffron Screen
London | Relaxed Screenings at Barbican
Hebden Bridge | Autism Friendly (Relaxed) Screenings at Hebden Bridge Picture House
Birmingham | Relaxed events and screenings at Mac
Canterbury | Accessible film screenings at Gulbenkian
Chester | Relaxed Screenings at Storyhouse
Merlin Cinemas | Penzance, Redruth, Falmouth, Torquay, Ilfracombe, Okehampton, Coleford, Cromer, Kingsbridge, Prestatyn | Autism friendly screenings at Merlin Cinemas
Mental Health Movie Monthly was launched in 2016 at Robert Gordon University by two lecturers with the aim of improving understanding around mental health and increasing empathy with people who experience mental health issues. Films chosen for their potential for fruitful debate are shown, followed by an open discussion in which all members of the … More
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago. The event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.
Loneliness is affecting more and more of us in the UK and had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic. Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. We can all play a part in this.
Read more here.
Mental Health Awareness Week shines a light on mental health experiences. Often misrepresented, mental health stories on screen can add to stigma around mental health conditions. films can also present opportunities to raise awareness, support education and broaden understanding about mental health experiences, and ignite important discussions about how we look after each other. Find some highlighted films and events on this page, along with resources to support the wellbeing of cinema audiences.
We have provided some links to some interesting films below. If you are a filmmaker who works with themes of mental health and have work online, for example on your website, YouTube or Vimeo, you can let us know about it by completing our contact form here.
Online initiatives can help people and communities to connect and support people experiencing mental health problems. There are some resources included here for getting started with running events online.
Could you:
The UK cinema sector is recognised as a world-leader in terms of its work to support and welcome disabled cinema-goers. Many of the changes made by UK cinema operators in this regard pre-empted and indeed went further than the requirements placed on cinemas, and others providing goods, facilities or services to the public, by the … More
One in a hundred people in the UK have autism. That’s enough to fill Wembley Stadium nearly eight times over. That’s a fact. But there are an equal number of myths surrounding autism that are, frankly, unhelpful. Ambitious About Autism dispel some of the biggest myths and give you the lowdown on all the stats … More
In 2015 Disabled Access Day, 16 March, began as a day to celebrate good access and to create opportunities for people to try something new. The day was very much about highlighting the fantastic access that already exists in places, experiences such as going on a touch tour, enjoying a relaxed performance, sensory experiences, signed events, level access and of course a warm welcome! Often these activities and experiences are hard to arrange or create a sense of anxiety and fear.
Cinemas across the country offer access for people who may have visible or hidden disabilities, as well as offering specific accessible screenings, such as subtitled, audio described, BSL interpreted, relaxed environment, autism-friendly, and/or dementia-friendly screenings.
Your Local Cinema lists many subtitled and audio-described screenings
Accessible Screenings UK also list autism-friendly, subtitled and audio-described screenings
Many cinemas across the country offer relaxed environment or autism-friendly screenings, with adaptations to make the space more comfortable and accessible for autistic people to enjoy film as individuals or with their families.
Organisations such as the UK Cinema Association, Dimensions, National Autistic Society and BFI FAN have worked with cinemas to support them in welcoming autistic audiences.
We have provided some training resources and information on this page to help you host Relaxed Screenings in your venue.
Cinema and film can be an inspiring and powerful tool for representation and developing awareness projects. Find some inspiration on this page about previous and existing projects, films, or information for further research and planning ideas.
Jo attended Opening our Doors: Inclusive Cinema in Glasgow 2019 to run a workshop on marketing diverse titles for audiences.
“One of things I enjoy most about working on grassroots and outreach marketing on film projects is the sheer diversity of campaigns you can be involved with as well as the creative freedom you can exercise on the below the line activity associated with these projects.
“As cinemas, community cinemas or festivals its imperative you treat grassroots/outreach marketing as an integral part of your audience development programme – you’ll need to nurture and cultivate these relationships over time.
“Look at your programme at a whole and find the common links between films – look at I, Daniel Blake and Nae Pasaran! for instance, there is definitely a crossover in terms of the politics or looking at young empowered female led films like Patti Cake$ and Skate Kitchen. Be as strategic as you can with your programming.
“Organisations and individuals you engage with will become your ambassadors and champions so its important you keep the conversations with them going even during your quieter periods or between events.
“Also as local organisations you’re a unique position to understand the sensitivities and culture of your community, this is a massive advantage – think of all the knowledge you have and how it can be best used!”
“Each week I look at a different film industry topic, focusing on the data and statistics to reveal what’s really going on.”
Film at the Cinema chapter from BFI Statistical Yearbook presenting in one place all the available statistics on UK film and the UK film industry.
