The intersection between disability and creativity, best practices for a gender inclusive industry and VFX will all be discussed on Saturday May 17 at the Cannes UK pavilion.
‘Creativity and disability: when challenges spark innovation’ takes place at 11:30, and will see a conversation with filmmakers, sharing their experiences of inclusive spaces for disabled professionals in the film industry.
Taking part in the discussion will be Abbie Hills, one of the UK’s first trained access coordinators as well as a writer and actor; Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, a playwright, author and filmmaker, with credits including Bafta-nominated short form series CripTales; and writer-director Mari Sanders.
“As an industry, we need to do better at supporting our disabled creatives,” said Hills. “Recent statistics show that 80% of disabled characters on screen are portrayed by non-disabled actors, and fewer than 10% of crew members identify as disabled. As someone with a disability, this shakes me to my core. It’s a tragedy for our industry.
“Too many talented individuals are being overlooked due to a lack of sustainable solutions for the barriers that clearly still exist in our industry. Despite all the good work that’s going on. That needs to change. I hope this panel offers a glimpse into the creative brilliance within our community and sparks meaningful conversations about inclusion and building an industry that truly welcomes all.”
Also on at the UK pavilion, British Film Commission’s Gareth Kirkman, UK Screen Alliance’s Neil Hatton, and Isabel Davis and Cheryl Conway from Screen Scotland will discuss new opportunities with post-production and VFX at 09:30, plus Akinola Davies Jnr and the team behind his Un Certain Regard film My Father’s Shadow take part in a talent talk at 14:00.
Over at the Palais des Festivals, a discussion titled ‘Beyond the binary: best practices for a gender inclusive industry’ kicks off at 15:30, featuring Layla writer-director Amrou Al-Khadi, film director and screenwriter Chica Andrade and Kiyoko McCrae, programme director at US-based gender film group Chicken & Egg Films.
See the full line-up of the Cannes UK pavilion activity here, which runs until Monday May 19.
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