FWD-Doc

We are so proud of this film team and film. Check out Patrice: The Movie on hulu starting September 30th. #disability #romcom #documentary James LeBrecht

"There are ways to ensure safely accommodating all participants and guests at these events. Many disability-centered films came before The Ride Ahead, and many will come after us. There is a clear roadmap: Start by reading the Accessibility Scorecard Impact Report (link in comments). Publicize and encourage your attendees to fill out the scorecard themselves. And sign up to receive data and feedback for your festival. Study the accessibility pages and features at “the five most accessible festivals” that the report named: Superfest Disability Film Festival  BlackStar Film Festival International Queer Women of Color Film Festival  Access:Horror Film Festival New Orleans Film Festival Continue on to the FWD-DOC Engagement Pack. These resources contain tips and specific actions to make your festival or event accessible to all. A few examples: Hire D/deaf and disabled programmers, programming advisors, and professional access advisors or coordinators. Make sure every venue has sufficient space for mobility devices (ideally at least 10% of total audience capacity should be wheelchair accessible). Pick venues with excellent existing accessibility, including highly functioning elevators, accessible stage areas, and family/gender neutral restrooms. Use live captions (aka CART) for virtual and in-person panels and Q&As. Provide a sign language interpreter for post screening discussions, introductions, and panels. Advertise your accessible screenings and events, and note the details of access provision on every webpage, press release, announcement (e.g., “This screening has open captions and a live captioned Q&A”). Ask ticket/pass buyers what their access requirements are early in the ticketing process. At the outset of the planning process, festivals and film events must (and often do) anticipate the needs of their audiences. This will help them select screening, workshop, and party venues that are better suited for their festival community. Get creative. Many highly accessible venues do exist—at some theaters, universities, community spaces, hotels, and more. Here’s a recent development that gives us hope: one prestigious documentary festival has programmed The Ride Ahead for its fall 2024 lineup and has partnered with a nonprofit in the same city to host the screening at a highly accessible auditorium with capacity for up to 40 wheelchair users. The nonprofit is even able to provide staff with expertise in event access and accommodations. This is an innovative, win-win model that other festivals can follow. We’ll update this article once the festival announces its lineup. Every community deserves respect and equity at film festivals. Let’s pave the way together." https://lnkd.in/eXzHGXZu

"There are ways to ensure safely accommodating all participants and guests at these events. Many disability-centered films came before The Ride Ahead, and many will come after us. There is a clear roadmap: Start by reading the Accessibility Scorecard Impact Report (link in comments). Publicize and encourage your attendees to fill out the scorecard themselves. And sign up to receive data and feedback for your festival. Study the accessibility pages and features at “the five most accessible festivals” that the report named: Superfest Disability Film Festival  BlackStar Film Festival International Queer Women of Color Film Festival  Access:Horror Film Festival New Orleans Film Festival Continue on to the FWD-DOC Engagement Pack. These resources contain tips and specific actions to make your festival or event accessible to all. A few examples: Hire D/deaf and disabled programmers, programming advisors, and professional access advisors or coordinators. Make sure every venue has sufficient space for mobility devices (ideally at least 10% of total audience capacity should be wheelchair accessible). Pick venues with excellent existing accessibility, including highly functioning elevators, accessible stage areas, and family/gender neutral restrooms. Use live captions (aka CART) for virtual and in-person panels and Q&As. Provide a sign language interpreter for post screening discussions, introductions, and panels. Advertise your accessible screenings and events, and note the details of access provision on every webpage, press release, announcement (e.g., “This screening has open captions and a live captioned Q&A”). Ask ticket/pass buyers what their access requirements are early in the ticketing process. At the outset of the planning process, festivals and film events must (and often do) anticipate the needs of their audiences. This will help them select screening, workshop, and party venues that are better suited for their festival community. Get creative. Many highly accessible venues do exist—at some theaters, universities, community spaces, hotels, and more. Here’s a recent development that gives us hope: one prestigious documentary festival has programmed The Ride Ahead for its fall 2024 lineup and has partnered with a nonprofit in the same city to host the screening at a highly accessible auditorium with capacity for up to 40 wheelchair users. The nonprofit is even able to provide staff with expertise in event access and accommodations. This is an innovative, win-win model that other festivals can follow. We’ll update this article once the festival announces its lineup. Every community deserves respect and equity at film festivals. Let’s pave the way together." https://lnkd.in/eXzHGXZu

"You find yourself wondering how it took commissioners quite so long." FWD-Doc has been wondering the same thing. Hey audiences, tell the commissioners, broadcasters, and streamers to come and chat with FWD-Doc members. We've got some stories to tell. https://lnkd.in/gcXHBvf9

"However, whilst growing scrutiny has been placed on how disability is depicted, or sadly, all too often excluded from the finished product, less attention has been paid to a serious accessibility barrier impacting film creatives with disabilities at the very grassroots of the industry. Film festivals are the lifeblood of the business and provide both aspiring filmmakers and those already inside Hollywood’s walled gardens with invaluable networking and career development opportunities. ... Earlier this month, a collective comprising FWD-Doc which stands for Filmmakers with Disabilities, Film Event Accessibility Working Group and the Film Festival Alliance released their “Accessibility Scorecard Impact Report.” The report looked at accessibility data from 75 film festivals and events from around the globe taking into account the experiences of 353 respondents. The online questionnaire was originally launched in July 2022 and goes beyond just viewing experiences to also incorporate red carpet, stage, networking and related events. ... Cassidy Dimon, founder of the Film Event Accessibility Working Group (FEAW) which includes ReelAbilities Film Festival New York and the Sundance Institute among its members says in an interview undertaken over email, “When filmmakers are barred access to attending their own screenings and Q&As, they are gatekept from being able to build the grassroots following many filmmakers need to sustain their careers and prove to industry folks that their films are worth engaging with.” ... It is a stance firmly echoed by FWD-Doc’s Interim Director Amanda Upson: “Filmmakers need access to festivals to progress in their careers. Festivals offer opportunities for training, professional development, mentoring, networking, exhibition, access to funding, and more,” Upson says. “If you are working in entertainment, you want to attend film festivals and events for the same reason you’d go to CES or AWS if you’re working in consumer tech or cloud computing.” ... “I believe that those with a lived experience with a disability or disabilities are natural problem solvers." James LeBrecht says. "We live in a world that was built with the mindset of not expecting or wanting us. To survive, we develop creative skills and approaches in our everyday lives, and that experience is embedded in our art. We are driven people who value the hard-earned gains we made.”" Thanks for the work in providing this coverage, Gus Alexiou and Forbes. Thanks to all the disabled filmmakers and allies who continue to advocate for accessibility and work towards a more inclusive industry. [Link to the Impact Report in comments] https://lnkd.in/g6rmW8HR