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.

FWD-Doc, the Film Event Accessibility Working Group, and the Film Festival Alliance recently published "The Accessibility Scorecard Impact Report" which highlights significant accessibility issues in the film festival industry.

The report surveyed 353 respondents from 75 film festivals worldwide between July 2022 - November 2023 and found that 75% of disabled attendees experienced some form of inaccessibility.

The report emphasizes that inaccessible festivals exclude disabled voices, leading to inauthentic on-screen representation and missed financial opportunities for the industry.

You can read more about the report and its recommendations for improvement below!

How Inaccessible Film Festivals Silence Disabled Voices In Cinema – New Research

A recently published report on inaccessibility at leading film festivals shows that filmmakers with disabilities are being excluded at the grassroots of the industry.

ForbesGus Alexiou

Get your Film Festival Guide to Access

As a disability arts service organization, we know how overwhelming it can be to implement access at any level in an organization, but we also know how rewarding and inspiring it can be if it’s done with a creative and collaborative mindset!

That's why we created "The Film Festival Guide to Access," a workbook for putting industry standards into action.

The Film Festival Guide to Access

This interactive workbook will guide you through a journey to learn about the 3 different kinds of mindsets that might be getting in your way.

Learn more

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