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

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
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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

There are several access schemes operating in the UK which provide benefits, transparency when negotiating a trip to the cinema.

Cards

CEA Card – The CEA Card is a national card scheme developed for UK cinemas by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA). The Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema. The Card is also one way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests. If you require an adjustment to visit a cinema because of your disability, cinema staff should make them for you whether you have a CEA Card or not.

Nimbus Card – The Access Card translates a cardholder’s disability / impairment into symbols which highlight the barriers they face and the reasonable adjustments they might need. This then informs providers quickly and discreetly about the support needed and may gain holders access to things like concessionary ticket prices and complex reasonable adjustments without having to go into loads of personal detail. It’s all based on rights outlined in the Equality Act and providers responsibilities.

HYNT Card – Hynt is a national access scheme that works with theatres and arts centres in Wales to make sure there is a consistent offer available for visitors with an impairment or specific access requirement, and their Carers or Personal Assistants. If you need support or assistance to attend a performance at a theatre or arts centre then you may be eligible to join hynt. Each year HYNT holds a symposium for venue staff and other professionals working in the sector.

Campaigns

Nimbus CredAbility – CredAbility is Nimbus’ quality mark. Like the Access Card itself CredAbility was designed and developed by Nimbus; with and for disabled people. It reflects what a commitment to good practice should look like when providing services to a disabled customer.

Gigbuddies – Gigbuddies is NOT about providing free support or replacing statutory services. It’s about enabling people with learning disabilities to have people in their lives who aren’t paid to be there. Gigbuddies match people up with a volunteer who commits to attending at least one gig per month. Gigbuddies is a campaign run by charity, Stay Up Late.

Listings

Euan’s Guide – Euansguide.com is the disabled access review site where disabled people, their family, friends and carers can find and share reviews on the accessibility of venues around the UK and beyond. The site is an invaluable tool for everything from planning a day out, to picking a last-minute place for coffee or lunch. “The aim of Euan’s Guide is to empower disabled people by providing information that will give confidence and choices for getting out and about.” Founder, Euan Macdonald.

AccessAble – AccessAble is here to take the chance out of going out. To give you the accessibility information you need to work out if a place is going to be accessible for you. They’ve surveyed 10,000s of venues across the UK and Ireland, including shops, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, railway stations, hotels, colleges, universities, hospitals and more. Use AccessAble to find wheelchair friendly venues or check out disabled access and facilities.

In 2019, This Way Up took to Nottingham for the event’s sixth edition, which kicked off with opening sessions reflecting the key themes of the overall conference: Celebration, Resilience and The Future.

The conference featured more talks around inclusion than ever before, and we at Inclusive Cinema captured four of our favourite talks so those who couldn’t make the event could still get the benefit of case studies and insights shared.

The talks below are provided by the following speakers:

Rabab Ghazoul, the Founder & Director of Welsh cultural organisation platform Gentle/Radical, shared her vision of what the future of working with audiences could be. What does ‘outreach’ look like now, and what could it become?

Karena Johnson, Artistic Director and CEO, Hoxton Hall, shared her experience of re-launching Hoxton Hall, a Victorian music hall, and tackling the sometimes uncomfortable issue of diversity. She led a workshop session where delegates were invited to explore their own approach. She spoke about shifting organisational culture, bringing a team with you on a journey and how to manage expectations.

Rico Johnson-Sinclair, Director and Programmer of CineQ Birmingham discussed campaigning for queer, trans, and intersex people of colour’s stories on screen and how he reaches audiences.

Nikki Stratton, Co-Founder & Director, Deaffest looked at the best ways to market to D/deaf audiences. Catherine Downes (Co-Founder, usheru) discussed their work aiming to reach those that start the ticket-buying process but don’t complete the all-important checkout process. With tips and tricks to maximise the potential of your marketing output.

Outreach: Decoloniality & Revolution - Rabab Ghazoul

Diversifying the cultural landscape - Karena Johnson

Marketing: Reaching your target audience - Rico Johnson-Sinclair

The best way to market to Deaf audiences - Nikki Stratton