No Barriers to Cinema: Young d/Deaf audiences

A doubleheader of educational special events from Into Film celebrating language, communication and d/Deaf cultural identity.

No Barriers to Cinema: Young d/Deaf audiences

A doubleheader of educational special events from Into Film celebrating language, communication and d/Deaf cultural identity. Summary of project The central tenet of the project was to challenge the assumption that accessible cinema screenings need to be separated from mainstream programming. We promoted the events encouraging schools working with d/Deaf or hearing students to attend, … More

Learning Disability Week, taking place in the third week of June is presented by Mencap.

Learning Disability and Film

Learning disabled people are chronically underrepresented in the film industry. This is a time to reflect on supporting learning disabled representation in the film industry as well as consider access to cinema for neurodivergent audiences.

Oska Bright, based in Brighton is the worlds biggest learning disability film festival. Find out more about their amazing work here. Mencap community group of people with a learning disability took a look at four films which were shown as part of the Oska Bright 2024 Film Festival. You can watch the films here.

Daydream Cinema provide accessible screenings for neurodiverent and disabled audiences. The Connect With Film: Neurodivergent Short Film Programme features several films by learning disabled filmmakers, and will be screened FREE online during Learning Disability Week. Watch it here from Saturday 22nd – Sunday 23rd June 2024.

In 2019, FAN New Releases supported Signature’s title The Peanut Butter Falcon, a modern Mark Twain-esque adventure starring Shia LaBeouf (American Honey, Fury) as a small-time outlaw turned unlikely coach who joins forces with Zack Gottsagen‘s Zak, a young man with Down Syndrome on the run from a nursing home with the dream of becoming a professional wrestler. You can now watch The Peanut Butter Falcon on BFI Player.

You can also watch the film My Feral Heart on Amazon Prime. A drama in which Luke (Steven Brandon), a young man with Down’s syndrome who prizes his independence, is forced into a care home after the death of his mother. There he rails against the restrictions imposed on him, but his frustrations are allayed by his budding friendships with his care-worker Eve (Shana Swash) and a mysterious feral girl (Pixie Le Knot).

Learning disability and Cinema

If you’re interested in running a relaxed screening to help bring in Learning Disabled audiences to your cinema, find out more in our quick tips for running relaxed screenings. You may also find some transferable advice in our autism-friendly screenings guide, though bear in mind much of this advice is specific to people living with autism, not necessarily those who are Learning Disabled. Ideally, consult with Learning Disabled groups in your area for advice and expertise.

Inclusive Cinema is committed to addressing inequality and promoting diversity in UK cinema exhibition. 

We believe that Black Lives Matter, and we are listening, learning and taking action. We continue to read and share resources with the Film Audience Network membership, and use our platform to amplify the work of Black-led organisations, makers and curators.

Black culture is integral to British society and should be woven into our education and cultural understanding all year round, not just for now, but forever. As an opportunity to raise up the stories of those who have been marginalised, we hope this resource can be used as a vehicle to start important conversations and continue creating change – in on-screen representation, recognition of cultural impact, and in delivering a more inclusive future.

Festivals, collectives and organisations in the UK Film and Culture Industries

Dardishi: Festival of Arab and North African womxn’s art (Glasgow)
Africa in Motion (Glasgow/Edinburgh)
Fringe of Colour (Edinburgh)
African Film Club (Edinburgh)
Fly! Festival of Black Women’s Film (Bristol)
We Are Parable 
The New Black Film Collective 
The British Blacklist 
Come the Revolution 
Creative Debuts: Black Artist Grant 
Black Ticket Project 
Cinema Golau (Wales)
Watch Africa (Wales)
Caramel Film Club (London)
Recognize (Midlands)
CineQ (Midlands)
Mangosteen Media (Manchester/Bolton)
Black Gold Arts (Manchester)
Cables & Cameras (Bristol)
Afrika Eye (Bristol)
Kiki (Bristol)
Black Femme Film (London)
the:nublk

Carers UK: Caring on film and TV

When an issue is shown on TV and in film it can bring it to a wider audience and increase awareness, which is why we love it when caring is depicted on screen.

Cinerama Film Online LGBTQ films: The Essential Collection

For the LGBTQ community, film has long been a vehicle for challenging social oppression and isolation. While in turn furthering inclusion and understanding of the LGBTQ communities rich place in history, art and culture. This has led to a cinematic journey that not only reflects the history of the people at its heart. But also … More

June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in the United Kingdom. It commemorates the Stonewall riots and aims to recognise the impact LGBTQIA+ people have had and continue to have across the world.

It’s a month for communities to come together in solidarity to unite, to protest and to celebrate the heritage, culture and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual people.

Activists and allies can support by:

  • Increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (“LGBTQIA”) people, their history, lives and experiences in the curriculum and culture of institutions, and the wider community;
  • Raising awareness and advancing education on matters affecting the LGBTQIA+ community;
  • Working to make institutions safe spaces for all LGBTQIA+ communities; and
  • Promoting the welfare of LGBTQIA+ people, by ensuring that the education system recognises and enables LGBTQIA+ people to achieve their full potential, so they contribute fully to society and lead fulfilled lives, which benefits society as a whole.

 

Pride and Cinema

There are a wealth of films available on the LGBTQIA+ experience and history. It’s now as important as ever to support the work of LGBTQIA+ filmmakers and we have some lists and suggestions to get you started.

You can learn about how to become a more LGBTQIA+ friendly organisation, and think about how to support and collaborate with LGBTQIA+ led exhibitors and programmers.

When running LGBTQIA+ events is is important to consider intersectionality, including supporting global majority communities and ensuring your events embed disabled and neurodivergent access.

If you are interested in running a film event for, or inspired by, Pride, here are some resources for information and to help generate ideas, from case studies to film guides.

Film ideas and resources

Here’s what to watch to celebrate LGBTQ Pride’s roots in protest
read more
17 Essential Black Queer Films
read more
30 best LGBTQ+ films of all time
read more
17 of the Best LGBTQ Films of 2018 (Recent & Upcoming)
read more
Comprehensive* List of LGBTQ+ Vocabulary Definitions
read more
Stonewall Research Reports
read more
LGBT In Britain: Trans Report
read more
Dementia and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) population
read more
Queer Film Network
read more
42 queer filmmakers everyone should know
read more
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Festival
read more
Out on the screen: 50 years of queer cinema in Britain
read more
Cinerama Film Online LGBTQ films: The Essential Collection
read more
A Short History Of LGBTQ+ Cinema
read more
A history of LGBTQ+ representation in film
read more
10 Tips to Make Your Venue More Inclusive for LGBTQ+ Tourism
read more
SQIFF Accessibility Guide for Exhibitors
read more
Why are there so few accessible LGBTQ+ venues
read more
The Unwritten: It’s Time to Make All Queer Spaces Accessible
read more
European Film Academy: LGBTQIA+ Film festivals Guide in Europe
read more
By us, about us, for all: why films by trans people matter for everyone
read more
‘There’s this inherent censorship’: how trans cinema has endured over time
read more
Five Films for Freedom: queer cinema and censorship
read more
5 Things to Know to Make Your Feminism Trans-Inclusive
read more
Guidance: Trans-inclusive culture
read more
Inclusivity: Social media marketing as a LGBTQ+ ally
read more
How bars can create safe spaces for queer communities
read more

Volunteers’ Week takes place in June every year, this week it runs from 3rd – 9th June. It’s a chance to say thank you for the contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK to support our communities.

The Week is open to anyone to take part – this can include carrying out an act of kindness, doing some volunteering or contributing to discussion. Find more information here.

The week is led in partnership by NCVOVolunteer ScotlandVolunteer Now (Northern Ireland) and Wales Council for Voluntary Action and supported by organisations across the UK.

Volunteers and Cinema

Hundreds of community cinemas across the UK are volunteer-run, with people bringing their love of cinema and the audience experience to life in their communities. There are also many other independent venues that simply would not be able to provide the special and personal experiences they do without the support of volunteers. This is a week to give extra thanks to these brilliant people.

6 Steps to Volunteer Management Success | Leep NGO