So What Heritage
Telling new stories about museum collections through video and digital art
So What Heritage is a two-year collaboration between Beacon Films and Great North Museum, Hancock, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
We are seeking creative disabled and neurodivergent people to take part in our project to explore museum collections through film.
In these workshops, we will help you make short films and video art using both mobile devices and professional equipment.
Your films will be inspired by objects you find at the Great North Museum. This is a chance to give new life to old things and share your unique view on heritage.
The videos you make will be shown inside the museum and on social media. This will help more people see and understand heritage from a different perspective.
If you are interested to take part, please email Michelle at getinvolved@beaconfilms.org.uk
BFI Film Academy
Our entry level programme for 16-25 year olds to discover their filmmaking talents
Calling Young Filmmakers!
Do you love watching or making films?
Will you be 16-19 years old by October 2026 or 20-25years old with an EHCP?
Would you like to shoot and star in your own film?
We are currently waiting to hear if the BFI Film Academy Short Course, delivered by Beacon Films, will be funded.
If it is we will start in October 2026!
If you would like to be kept updated, please register your interest by emailing filmacademy@beaconfilms.org.uk
Travel and Access bursaries will be available
Please note:if you have taken part in The BFI Film Academy before, you are not eligible to apply to take part.
Watch previous Film Academy productions here!
Focus First
An opportunity to experiment and collaborate creatively with film
Focus First (formerly Viewfinder) offers a supportive environment for Disabled and Neurodivergent filmmakers to experiment, connect, and collaborate.
“Beacon films has given me the confidence, experience and social skills to work with other organisations.”
“It’s made me more confident with things like solving a problem myself before i ask someone. It helps me with creativity and developing ideas”
Viewfinder - Behind the Scenes (2023)
Focus Forward
Supporting disabled and neurodivergent creatives to take the next steps in their screen career
Focus Forward supports Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives to develop their freelance career in film, TV or video production
Whether you're just starting out, need help staying on track, or want to grow your business, we're here to support you.
Quick Links
Blue background slide with the title Focus Forward, promoting an event about getting representation for actors. It includes an image on the left of the speaker, Sarah Leigh from Inclusivity Films, who is on viewing a scene in a monitor that she is directing. The event is taking place on Tuesday 24th March online from 1.30pm - 2.30pm and booking information is below.
Next event
What is acting representation and how do you go about getting it?
Tuesday 24th March 2026
1.30-2.30pm
On Zoom
How it works
Online Events
What: Monthly, one-hour online meetings with other creatives (last Tuesday of each month).
Who: Anyone who lives in the UK, and is working or wants to work in film, TV and/or video production.
Why: These sessions are a great way to learn new things, share ideas, and connect with other people in the industry. They're a relaxed way to get started and see what we're all about.
Topics: We cover practical topics like creating an Access Rider to communicate your needs to clients, different ways to plan your creative business, and how to get support from the Access to Work scheme
One-to-One mentoring
What: You can apply for more focused, one-on-one support.
Who: Anyone based in North East England who is working or wants to work in film, TV and/or video production.
Why: We'll work with you to set your personal career goals and create a plan to reach them. We'll help you develop contacts and find business leads.
Paid Commissions: As part of this, you may have the opportunity to be matched with a client for a paid film project.
Join our online community to
Catch up with meetings so far
More features will be added soon! (Including useful resources)
Where Focus Forward comes from
Focus Forward is built on years of experience and learning from our other successful projects. We know what works because we’ve been doing it. Our network is successful because we:
Listen to you: Our event topics are guided based on feedback from creatives like you
Provide real opportunities: We've helped our filmmakers get over 1,000 hours of paid work creating video content for clients from the NHS to the Northumbria University; from local authorities to an Emmy-award winning production company.
Give you the tools you need: Our past programmes have helped creatives launch new businesses and have provided guidance on things like inclusive networking.
Event Access
When you book your tickets, you will be asked about any access requirements you have.
BSL interpretation is available.
Auto-captions are provided for all sessions.
You are welcome to join the meeting hosts in person (hybrid) at their Newcastle office.
If you'd like to be joined by a supporter / PA, they'd be welcome. There is no need to book a second ticket. Just forward them the Zoom link when it arrives.
For any other access-related questions, please contact Will Sader (will@beaconfilms.org.uk)
Interested to find out more? Contact Will at will@beaconfilms.org.uk or call the office on 0191 580 7000
Making Creativity Works
Making Creativity Works was a training initiative delivered by Beacon Films and Signpost Productions, two North-East production companies that work with Deaf, hearing, Disabled and non-Disabled screen creatives.
Making Creativity Worksprovided over 100 hours of FREE hands-on training, and equipped learners with the skills and knowledge they needed to develop a career in film, television or video production.
They may have some experience of working on a film or in television, but also no experience was necessary to apply to take part.
We were particularly interested in encouraging a diverse range of applicants, including those who:
identified as Deaf or Disabled
were not in work
were a student approaching the end of their course
29% of those on the programme lived in areas within areas ranked 1-4 in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
39% of those who attended the programme achieved a positive change in economic status, and 78% of learners achieved at least one outcome related to employment or ongoing learning.
Behind the Scenes film about Making Creativity Works
Inclusive Lens
For screen content commissioners who want to improve inclusion for disabled talent
Inclusive Lens is for creative and cultural organisations who want to improve inclusion for Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent talent in film, TV or video production.
Next event
Toolkit: How to find out about and respond to access requirements
Thursday 29th January 2025
12pm - 1pm
On Zoom
About Inclusive Lens:
Inclusive Lens, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, is dedicated to developing a more inclusive cultural workforce.
Whilst our focus is on ...
The film, TV and video production sector
Freelance talent
... the sessions are designed to provide a mutual and non-judgemental learning environment for individuals from across the screen and cultural sectors.
Why?
Because we believe that access and inclusion are transferable concepts across sectors
Because we think that different sectors can learn a lot from one another
Because we recognise that organisations that commission screen content include museums, universities, theatres and public sector bodies, as much as they include film companies and broadcasters.
Inclusive Lens aims to:
Support commissioners in creating accessible and inclusive workplaces for Deaf, Disabled, and Neurodivergent (DDN) talent, ultimately enhancing workforce well-being for everyone.
Facilitate shared learning on continuously improving the inclusion of DDN talent within our workforces.
Connect commissioners with talented DDN filmmakers for paid opportunities, promoting practical implementation of inclusive practices.
How Inclusive Lens works:
Sessions are held every month, led by DDN professionals wherever possible, and feature resources available in advance.
There are two types of session, which tend to alternate monthly.
TOOLKIT offers practical advice on making every stage of your hiring and engagement processes more inclusive for DDN talent.
TROUBLESHOOT provides an opportunity for smaller groups to workshop real life challenges in DDN inclusion in a confidential and non-judgemental space.
In the spirit of 'nothing about us without us,' we strive for at least 50% DDN attendance, ensuring lived experience is central to our discussions.
Join us to contribute to and learn from this essential work.
Join our online community to
Catch up with meetings so far
More features will be added soon! (Including useful resources)
Event Access
When you book your tickets, you will be asked about any access requirements you have.
BSL interpretation is available.
Auto-captions are provided for all sessions.
You are welcome to join the meeting hosts in person (hybrid) at their Newcastle office.
If you'd like to be joined by a supporter / PA, they'd be welcome. There is no need to book a second ticket. In the access questions, you can input their email address and they will receive the same Zoom link.
For any other access-related questions, please contact Will Sadler (will@beaconfilms.org.uk)
92% rated the usefulness of the sessions at 4/5 or 5/5
83% rated how motivated they felt to take part in another session at 4/5 or 5/5
“I wanted to say thanks again for the session last month, I shared the suggestions with the team and will be incorporating a lot of them in our networking and events moving forwards.”
“I have already booked a meeting with the person on our team organising the summer social to see how we can make it as accessible as possible!”
“Lots of work in the screen industry is transferable and the open and collaborative space created in the group has meant I have been able to ask questions and clarify my understanding. We have made a number of changes to our working practices as a result of different sessions and have plans for future changes.”
“The practice and knowledge shared in the Industry Inclusion Group sessions offer invaluable, actionable insights into how we can undertake essential anti-ableist work both in our organisation and with those we support. The sessions underscore the importance of collaboration across the cultural sector as we move towards more inclusive and equitable ways of working.”
“The session was a great chance to share ideas and think things through collaboratively based on real-world challenges we face in the workplace and across sectors.”