By implementing a fully inclusive, tailored support system, this initiative has not only facilitated the participation of Disabled filmmakers at IFFR but also set a precedent for how festivals can be more accessible. The ongoing advocacy and collaborative work with other festivals aim to further influence industry-wide changes that will benefit Disabled filmmakers globally.
Overview
In recognition of the barriers Disabled filmmakers face within the film industry, this initiative aimed to provide inclusive support for Disabled filmmakers to attend the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) industry offering, IFFR Pro. This effort addresses the inaccessibility of major festivals and ensures that filmmakers with access needs have the same opportunities to collaborate, unlock funding, and advance their careers in the film industry.
Challenge
Film festivals have historically been inaccessible to Disabled filmmakers, with festivals and opportunities often designed in ways that exclude people with access needs. Barriers include financial limitations, physical accessibility, and systemic inequities that make it difficult for Disabled filmmakers to participate in crucial industry events and collaborations.
Intervention
With financial backing thanks to BFI National Lottery and BFI’s Group Attendance Fund, the initiative designed a fully accessible experience for Disabled filmmakers at IFFR, addressing inequities at every stage from application to participation. Objectives included:
- ensuring equal access: guarantee that disabled filmmakers can participate fully in major international festivals, with specific focus on IFFR Pro.
- breaking down barriers: tackle physical, financial, and systemic obstacles that hinder Disabled filmmakers’ access to the industry
- providing tailored support: create a personalised, accessible experience for each filmmaker, considering their unique access needs
- advocating for inclusivity: raise awareness and encourage other festivals to adopt accessible practices and improve inclusivity in their processes
- promoting collaboration and opportunities: facilitate connections, networking, and funding opportunities for Disabled filmmakers, ensuring equal access to industry resources
- creating sustainable change: establish a long-term framework for inclusive festivals and collaborate with other festival organisers to integrate accessible practices globally
Practical steps we took
Targeted invitations
The opportunity was specifically advertised to Disabled filmmakers via relevant mailing lists, ensuring that the initiative reached those most in need.
Exclusive access for Disabled filmmakers
Limited the cohort to Disabled filmmakers to tailor the support and increase the opportunity for them to attend.
Personal interviews
One-on-one interviews ensured that each filmmaker’s access needs were incorporated into interactions with the festival.
Access riders
Needs were shared voluntarily and transformed into personalised support plans, including:
- booking wheelchair-accessible rooms or those with walk-in showers
- providing lift or mobility support as needed
- creating inclusive communication formats, for example, a WhatsApp group adapted for a blind participant, where long messages were sent as voice notes for easier access
Staying present
Helping with logistics, resolving issues, and covering unexpected costs, ensuring the experience is as smooth and supportive as possible.
Solidarity spaces
For Disabled participants, we offer safe spaces, dinners, and continuous support to ensure they feel comfortable, connected and supported.
Collaboration with IFFR
Worked directly with the festival and hotels to ensure all requirements were met, including the appointment of an access coordinator to liaise with filmmakers and assist with accessible dining, meeting spaces, and troubleshooting.
Inclusive budgeting
The initiative covered additional costs such as personal assistants to support filmmakers, ensuring they could participate fully.
Panel discussion
A panel was hosted at IFFR to celebrate Disabled talent, advocate for better access and raise awareness about the need for inclusive festivals, providing a model for others to follow.
Results and impact
These tailored adjustments enabled full participation at the festival. The case highlights that genuine accessibility is often about intention and planning rather than significant additional costs. It also fostered a collective ethic of care among participants, encouraging an inclusive environment.
Extremely useful, it was the perfect opportunity to connect at a global level across all roles in the industry. I think the Inclusion team did a stellar job in supporting the cohort and ensured all my access needs were met.”Supported participant from IFFR Pro.
Deep dive
One cohort member, who is blind, faced challenges due to films not being audio-described. We initiated discussions with the festival about addressing this gap for future editions, advocating for audio description as a basic accessibility measure. The festival was open and receptive to these suggestions.
We were able to point to peer film festivals such as the New Orleans Film Festival and Scottish Queer International Film Festival, 100% of their films are now audio-described (this number grew incrementally year-on-year), setting a standard for what should be achievable at festivals of any scale. The cohort were featured in trade press and interviewed for a feature in Screen Daily helping to elevate their profile.
Continued advocacy and next steps
We plan to return to IFFR next year, engaging with festival directors to provide feedback on the access provided, propose a “Day of Disability,” and encourage long-term structural changes.
We aim to collaborate with other festivals and organisations like FWD-Doc and the Disability Screen Office (Canada) to share best practices and develop a festival accessibility checklist, helping more festivals integrate inclusive programming.
Feedback
The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. One participant, the blind cohort member, expressed gratitude for the care taken to address his needs, despite the limitations in the films’ accessibility. This experience highlighted the need for further action to mitigate such accessibility barriers in future festivals, including the integration of audio description.