The first ever UK Disability Film Festival will be held next month, with events taking place in 22 cinemas across the country. Featuring an extensive shorts programme as well as old favourite Raspberry Ripple (with John Gordon Sinclair) and a series of clips from the archives, it aims to raise the profile of disabled people as film subjects and as individuals working within the film industry.
"There have been lots of festivals all over the world before this, but they've come and gone," says festival director Paul Darke, who is also on the Magic Hour selection panel and has done leading academic work on disability and film. "I've been working on them for 15 or 20 years but I felt that a single day festival might work better and have more staying power. I also thought it might bring more people in."
Many of the festival's short films were chosen by a panel of disabled people, with others emerging from partnerships with Magic Hour, the BBC and learning disability festival Oska Bright. There was some debate over the selection of Raspberry Ripple because its leading role is filled by non-disabled actor John Gordon Sinclair, but it does feature disabled actors in supporting roles. Dr Darke says that he feels it's important to acknowledge the ongoing problem with the failure to cast disabled actors in leading roles whilst Oscars are often given to non-disabled people for playing disabled characters.
Things can also be complicated for disabled filmmakers. "I think there are lots of disabled people working in the media," he says, "but often they have to play down their disability in order to succeed. It would be good to open up discussion and explore that issue."
The festival has already secured funding for a second year, after which it may diversify and switch to a biannual format with more focus on specific issues. This year's event will take place on December 3rd, the International Day of Disabled People. The price of entry is variable, with some venues offering access for free. To find out more, visit http://www.disabilityfilmfestival.eu/
