Accessibility Beyond and Behind the Screen

Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast

Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by curator-producer Nadia Denton and industry analyst Johanna Koljonen, it delves deep into the rapidly evolving film industry.

Featuring the insights of thought leaders, policymakers and activists, this episode will explore the multitude of barriers faced by Disabled professionals in the film industry as well as the numerous organisations, initiatives and movements created to attain universal accessibility and to highlight the invaluable contributions of Disabled creatives to film culture. In an industry that does not generally value Disabled talent nor employ them to tell or embody Disabled stories, this episode will beg the important question of which moral, mental and organisational shifts need to take place in order to address these issues meaningfully.

Andrew Miller MBE is a cultural consultant and broadcaster, recognized as one of the most influential Disability advocates in the UK who has transformed perceptions throughout his 30 year career. He belongs to the first generation of Disabled presenters of British television, becoming the first wheelchair user to run a major UK arts venue.

Amanda Upson is an independent producer who focuses on the advocacy of the underrepresented in front of and behind the camera via producing and consulting. She is interim director and a contributing member of Filmmakers With Disabilities: FWD-Doc. Within this episode Amanda mentions a private Facebook Group: Deaf & Disabled People in TV.

Kyla Harris is a filmmaker, writer and activist who applies an intersectional approach to all of her work. She is a member of the Disability Screen Advisory Group for the British Film Institute (BFI). Kyla advocates for people who share her own identities as a queer, Disabled, woman of color. Along with Filmmakers With Disabilities (FWD-Doc) she co-wrote a Toolkit for Inclusion & Accessibility: Changing the Narrative of Disability in Documentary Film in association with Doc Society and Netflix as well as The FWD-Doc Engagement Pack in association with Doc Society and the BFI. Towards the end of this podcast episode, Kyla quotes her favorite statement by Mia Mungus, which for her sums up everything discussed in this episode and can be applied not only to filmmaking but to life in general.

Dr Grishma Shah is an artist and psychologist who consults with filmmakers, film festivals and production companies at various stages of the creative process. Her objective is to champion stories of diversity in inaccessible spaces to introduce new narratives of beauty and worth into the global market. As a visual artist, Grishma infuses heritage and components of mixed media into her artistry to create 3D paintings. She furthermore published Dissertations told through podcast miniseries. Currently, she works as a consultant for the 1in4coalition and as mass media consultant for the ReelAbilities Film Festival Chicago

During the conversation the Jack Thorne’s James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture from summer 2021 at The Edinburgh International Television Festival is mentioned.

This podcast episode has been developed in partnership with the British Film Institute in connection with their Press Reset campaign to inspire authority figures in film and TV to reset practices involving Disabled people and establish a new, more inclusive normal. The BFI also recently presented a series of screenings, talks and presentations showcasing Disabled practitioners’ work with their Busting the Bias programme.

The Berlinale’s European Film Market is the first international film market of the year, where the film industry starts its business. Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast puts a spotlight on highly topical and trendsetting industry issues, thereby creating a compass for the forthcoming film year. The year-round podcast is produced in cooperation with Goethe-Institut and co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA.