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.
It is a companion project to Focus Forward, which focuses on supporting DDN screen creatives.
Quick Links
Next event
Bookable one-to-one sessions to find out more about our screen goals mentoring opportunity
Thursday 23 July
30 minute slots between 10am and 3pm
NOTE: this is a Focus Forward event, aimed mainly at DDN screen creatives. However you may also be interested to join if you are currently supporting DDN screen creatives.
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:
Online sessions are held every month, led by DDN professionals wherever possible, and feature resources available in advance.
All sessions are recorded and included in our resource centre [COMING SOON!]
One-to-one mentoring for commissioning organisations who want to be part of positive change for DDN creatives is also available [COMING SOON!]
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 Sarah Jenkins (sarah@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.”
Awards and Festivals
Winner of the National Lottery Award for UK’s “Best Arts Project”, broadcast live on BBC1
Don’t Feed the Troll
Selected, Be Kind Movement’s workshops and e-learning platform, 2026
The Very Specific Magician
Selected for the Be Kind Movement’s workshops and e-learning platform, 2026
Soulmate
Official Selection, Bright Lights Youth Arts Film Shorts Showcase, Arts Centre Washington, 2025
Official Selection, Miami 4 Social Change Youth Film Festival, 2026
Have You Found It Yet?
Screening, Bright Lights Youth Arts Film Shorts Showcase, Arts Centre Washington, 2025
Official Selection, Together! Disability Film Festival, online, 2024
Official Selection, Heritage Open Days Short Film Festival, Forum Cinema Hexham, 2024
Will of the Handbag
Screening, Bright Lights Youth Arts Film Shorts Showcase, Arts Centre Washington, 2025
Official Selection, Together! Disability Film Festival, online, 2024
Screening, Daydream Cinema Day 2024, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, 2024
Screening, Sunderland Short Film Festival, Arts Centre Washington, 2023
Rose’s Nose
Official Selection, Daydream Cinema Day, Gosforth Civic Theatre, 2024
Screening, Sunderland Short Film Festival, Arts Centre Washington, 2023
Official Selection, Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, Sunderland, 2022
Official Selection, Camera Zizanio, Greece, 2022
Virtual Visionaries
Shortlisted in the ‘Inclusion’ category at the Digital Culture Awards 2023
Triple Crossed
Official Selection, Wicked Wales Youth Film Festival, Wales, 2021
Unspookable
Official Selection, International Youth Film Festival, Plasencia, Spain, March 2020
Official Selection, Enimation Festival, Slovenia, 2019
Official Selection, Camera Zizanio, Greece, 2019
March of the Cuckoos
Screening, Engage Film Festival, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, 2019
We Can Work
Official Selection, Miami 4 Social Change Film Festival, Florida, 2019
Grace Darling: Before the Storm
Nominated, International Category, YOUKI, Austria, 2019
CAR-E-OKE The Musical
Official Selection, Wicked Wales Youth Film Festival, Wales, 2019
Official Selection, Camera Zizanio, Greece, 2018 Official Selection, Enimation Festival, Slovenia, 2018
Official Selection, Together! Disability Festival, London, UK, 2018
Nominated, North East Young Filmmakers Awards, South Shields, UK, 2019
Screening, HOME, Manchester, UK, 2019
Screening, Eden Court, Inverness, UK, 2019
Screening, Genesis Cinema, London, UK, 2019
Virus
Selected, Be Kind Movement’s workshops and e-learning platform, 2026
Official Selection, Webisode Film Festival, Houston, Texas, 2019
Nominated, International Category, YOUKI, Austria, 2018
Screening, Come On Down Festival, Blyth, UK, 2018
Fake News
Selected, Be Kind Movement’s workshops and e-learning platform, 2026
Nominated, North East Young Filmmakers Awards, South Shields, UK, 2018
Screening, Come On Down Festival, Blyth, UK, 2018
Ebb and Flow
Official Selection, Oska Bright Film Festival, Brighton, UK, 2019
Exhibition, Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival, UK, 2017
Hidden Histories
Winner, "Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young People", Historic Angel Award 2017, Historic England
Hidden Histories: William Heron, Hammer of the Poor
Winner, "Best Community Film Award", Cinemagic, Belfast, 2017
Screening, Engage Film Festival, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, 2019
Post 16B
Nominated, Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival's Chris Anderson Award, UK, 2017 Screening, Come On Down Festival, Blyth, UK, 2018
I'm Not Funny
Award Winner, Best Community Film, Cardiff Mini Film Festival, UK, 2018 Nominated, Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival's Chris Anderson Award,UK, 2017
Nominated, North East Young Filmmakers Award, South Shields,UK, 2017 Screening, Come On Down Festival, Blyth, UK, 2018
Official Selection, Together! Disability Festival, London, UK, 2018
Mission Hat
Official Selection, Lahore International Children's Film Festival, Pakistan, 2017
Official Selection, Camera Zizanio, Greece, 2017
Screening, Come On Down Festival, Blyth, UK, 2018
The Devil of Jobs
Official Selection, Canadian Labour International Film Festival, Toronto, 2017
Congrat's your Life isn't Ending
Selected, Be Kind Movement’s workshops and e-learning platform, 2026
Official Selection, Camera Zizanio, Greece, 2017
Screenings, Curzon Cinema, Clevedon, 2017
Screening, The Northern Light Cinema, Derbyshire, 2017
57 Screenings, Barbican, London, 2017
Screening, Autism Arts Festival, University of Kent, 2017
Screening, Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle, 2017
Screening, Filmhouse Edinburgh, Edinburgh, 2017
Screening, Belmont Filmhouse, Aberdeen, 2017
Screening, Bideford Cinema, Devon, 2017
Screening, Waterfront Cinema, Greenock, 2017
Screening, Arc Stockton, Stockton, 2017
Screening, Ashurst Flix in the Stix, West Sussex, 2017
Screening, Eden Court, Inverness, 2017
Screening, Kendal Brewery Arts Centre, Cumbria, 2017
Screening, The Flavel, Dartmouth, 2017
Screening, Bernie Grant Arts Centre, London, 2017
Screening, No6 Cinema, Portsmouth, 2017
Screening, Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle, 2017
The Pirate Thief
Official Selection, Camera Zizanio, Greece, 2016
Official Selection, Second Asia International Youth Short Film Exhibition, Wenzhou, China, 2016
Nominated, International Category, YOUKI, Austria, 2016
Nominated, "European Cultural Associations and Film-makers", MEET Film Festival, Sicily, 2016
Nominated, Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival's Chris Anderson Award, 2016
Official Selection, Video Wall, Tall Ships Blyth, 2016
Michelle Brophy: Winner, Best Performance, Custom Reels Film Festival, South Shields, 2016
Official Selection, Sunderland Short Film Festival, Sunderland, 2017
The Princess and the Bodyguard
Official Selection, Oska Bright on the Road, 2016
Official Selection, Sharjah International Children's Film Festival, United Arab Emirates, 2016
Semi-Finalist, International Open Film Festival, USA and Bangladesh, 2016
Official Selection, The International Film and Audio-Visual Festival for Children and Young People, Venezuela, 2016
Official Selection, Scout Film Festival, Vermont USA, 2016
Award Winner, International Youth Film Festival, Spain, 2016
Winner,"Best Community Project", Cinemagic, Belfast, 2015
Nominated, International Category, YOUKI, Austria, 2015
Official Selection, Oska Bright Film Festival, Brighton, UK, 2015
Official Selection, Lahore International Film Festival, Pakistan, 2015
Nominated, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival's Chris Anderson Award 2015
The Ruby of Doom
Official Selection, Oska Bright on the Road, 2016
Winner, D'Oscars, Hexham, 2015
Official Selection, Oska Bright Film Festival, Brighton, UK, 2015
Official Selection, International Youth Film Festival, Plasencia, Spain, March 2015
Broadcast on "Made in Tyne and Wear" (Channel 8)
Dr Lava - An Interactive Adventure
Performed at Berwick Film and media Arts Festival 2015
Performed at International Day of People with Disabilities, Sage Gateshead 2015
The ABC Challenge
Nominated, Young Deaffest 2014
Nominated, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival's Chris Anderson Award 2013
Official Selection, DaDa Fest 2014
Official Selection, Electric December 2013
Official Selection, Lahore International Children's Film Festival 2014
Laugh Out Loud
Nominated, Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival (Ireland) 2014
Nominated, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival's Chris Anderson Award 2014
Nominated, "Best Film Under 1 Minute", Kids for Kids UK Film Festival 2014
Nominated, "Best Film - Student Category", Nikon European Short Film Festival 2015
Anchor Point
Selected for BBC 3 Fresh 2014
Official Selection, International Youth Arts Festival 2014
Official Selection, Doscars 2014
Mystery Case
Winner, "Best Live Action", Doscars 2014
Official Selection, Electric December 2013
Justin the Party Animal
Winner, Best Live Action, Professional Jury, Kids for Kids Film Festival 2012
Winner, Grand Prize Best Overall Film, Professional Jury, Kids for Kids Film Festival 2012
Nominated, Chris Anderson Award, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival 2012
Official Selection, National Youth Film Film Festival (screened as a short before features), 2013
Official Selection, International Youth Arts Festival 2013
Official Selection, Doscars 2012
Official Selection, Bang! Short Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, Hansel of Film 2012
Official Selection, Shetland Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, Liberty Film Festival (BFI Southbank) 2012
Official Selection, Co-operative Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, Bang Short Film Festival (Nottingham) 2012
Official Selection, DaDa Fest (Liverpool) 2012
Justin and the Priceless Vase
Winner, Best Group Project, Cinemagic, 2013
Nominated, Best Comedy, First Light Awards 2013
Official Selection, Oska Bright On the Road 2014
Official Selection, Lahore International Children's Film Festival, 2013
Official Selection, Cineyouth Chicago 2013
Official Selection, International Youth Arts Festival 2013
Official Selection, Oska Bright 2013
Official Selection, Doscars 2012
Official Selection, Bang! Short Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, Hansel of Film 2012
Official Selection, Shetland Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, Electric December (Watershed, Bristol), 2012
Official Selection, Bang Short Film Festival (Nottingham) 2012
Official Selection, DaDa Fest (Liverpool) 2012
The Sky I'll Be
Independent Cinema Office's "Film of the Month", September 2013
Official Selection, Co-operative Film Festival 2013
Official Selection, Bang! Short Film Festival 2012
Boogie 9000 Makaton Robot
Winner, Best Innovation, Cinemagic 2011, Northern Ireland
Official Selection, International Youth Arts Festival 2012
Official Selection, Lahore International Children's Film Festival 2012
The Rules of Independent Travel
Nominated, Best Soundtrack, One Voice Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, International Youth Arts Festival 2012
Official Selection, Lahore International Children's Film Festival 2012
Make Up or Break Up
Official Selection, International Youth Arts Festival 2012
Official Selection, CineYouth, Chicago International Film Festival 2012
Official Selection, Lahore International Children's Film Festival 2012
The Pirate and the Mermaid
Winner, National Young Filmmakers Award 2010
Winner, Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival's Chris Anderson Award 2010
Winner, First Light Award for Best Original Music
Nominated, Disability Film Festival 2010, Austin, Texas
Official Selection, Oska Bright On the Road 2013
Official Selection, Whitley Bay Film Festival 2010
Official Selection, UK Future Filmmakers Showcase screening at 10 venues simultaneously across the UK, curated by the BFI 2010
Official Selection, FirstCut Film Festival, Cork, Ireland, 2010
Official Selection, Oska Bright Festival 2011
The Middle of Nowhere
Winner, Kids4Kids Young Jury Award 2010
Nominated, Best Emerging Talent, Fresh Flix, Encounters Film Festival 2009
Official Selection, Oska Bright on the Road 2013
Official Selection, Oska Bright Festival 2011