Recent Press
August 2024
BBC News (pictured)
Broadcast magazine article
Love Stevenage article
Film East podcast - Typical?
British Cinematographer article
Screensphere article
Image Description: BBC News website. The letters BBC in white with black background are at the top alongside a symbol of a person, bell, menu lines and a search icon. A red strap line below has the word ‘news’ on it and menu lines. Below the words, England> Local News> Beds, Herts & Bucks. The headline reads ‘Autistic director wants change in the film industry’. A photo below shows a group of adults sitting at exam desks, some with their arms folded. Photo credit Hannah Fishwick photography.
Sarah Leigh part of BFI delegation taken to IFFR
February 2025
Sarah was part of a recent delegation taken to IFFR in Rotterdam to move her feature project along.
Found (w/t) is a mystical-realism road-trip drama about an autistic woman in search of long lost family, guided by her tarot cards.
Link to article on photo.
Image Description: Red banner with white writing reads Screen Daily. Headline reads BFI delegation of disabled filmmakers attend IFFR. Photos of the delegation are below and text that reads: The many challenges disabled delegates can face at festivals and events prompted the British Film Institute (BFI) to take four UK-based disabled filmmakers to the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s (IFFR) industry offering IFFR Pro last week.
Inclusivity Films' Access Riders used as a Case Study for Creative UK's "Create Diversity" campaign
February 2025
Creative UK has launched Create Diversity “a hub of ideas, learning and inspiration that aims to encourage organisations across the creative and cultural sector, of all sizes and types, to embark on or deepen their own equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) journey so that together, we grow the sectors’ diversity of thought, output, reach and engagement, maximising the economic and social impact this brings.”
Link to campaign on article.
Image Description: A webpage from the Creative Uk website. At the top left are three block colour black semi-circles followed by the words in black Creative UK. Below that is a small button that reads Organisation and industry-wide approaches; Access Riders - Inclusivity Films; a thumbnail photo of Stehanie Whalley; Jan 25. Below is a photo of Sarah Leigh, director on set pointing into the distance. She is a white woman with medium length brown hair. She wears sunglasses on her head, a reusable coffee cup in her hand, and black clothing. Besides her is DoP Tom Watts. There is a monitor and lighting equipment in the background.
One for the Road part of the Official Selection at the Romford Horror Film Festival 2025
January 2025
One for the Road has been selected for the Romford Horror Film Festival 2025 and will be screened in March!
Image Description: Black and white photo - actor Caitlin Sinclair stands to the left, waiting. There is a small mirror behind her. White thorny laurels are on the top right of the image and white writing inside them reads Romford Horror Festival Horrhiffic Official Selection 2025, with the festival logo below - a capital R with a film reel down the side and the word horrhiffic below it.
Typical? selected for the inaugural Essex International Film Festival
January 2025
Typical? has been selected for the first ever Essex International Film Festival and will be screened in March. We're excited to return to Essex where a large portion fo the film was shot.
Image Description: A couple sit on a couch. The woman wears a pink shirt and glasses. The man wears a blue shirt and looks at his phone. The living room is dimly lit and there is a tall lamp and coffee table in the room. White laurels at the bottom centre of the photo case the words “Official Selection Essex International Film Festival 2025”.
One for the Road selected for the Northampton Film Festival 2025
January 2025
One for the Road has been selected for the Northampton Film Festival 2025 and will be screened in March! Thanks to Becky & the team!
Image Description: Black and white photo of a car. We can see through the car windows - in the front seat is actor Frank Harper who wears a flat cap and coat. Actor Jamie Jeyes sits in the back wearing a baseball cap backwards and coat. White laurels are on the bottom right of the image and white writing inside them reads Official Selection Northampton Film Festival 2025.
Sarah Leigh shortlisted for Best Film Direction award with Directors UK & Film the House
October 2024
Sarah was shortlisted for the Best Film Direction award for Typical? The award was sponsored by Directors UK at this year's Film the House ceremony at the House of Lords in the UK. Other sponsors included Disney UK, ACLS, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, the Motion Pictures Association and the Writers Guild GB.
Image Description: White background with an orange Best film clapperboard logo to the left. On the right it says Directors UK Best Film Direction Shortlist.
CALL IT OUT script selected for the IMDB Script to Screen awards 2024 at FilmBath
October 2024
Call It Out was selected as one of 5 finalist scripts in this year's IMDb Script to Screen awards. The script, written by Sarah Leigh, was performed by actors from Bath Spa University in a final at the FilmBath festival in October and directed by Eloise Grieve on the night.
Judges included BFI Talent Exec Nadia Attia, IMDb CEO Col Needham, filmmaker Paul Holbrook and Lauren Baker from MUBI.
Call It Out is is a witchy sci-fi drama about street harassment that follows an autistic woman, Violet, who has the power to alert other women to predators...
Image Description: 8 actors stand on a stage in front of microphones & hold scripts in their hands. There are two actors sitting on chairs to the side. A pink screen behind them has writing on it that reads Film Bath 2024 IMDb Script to Screen awards. There are pink lights above the stage.
ONE FOR THE ROAD selected for the Ealing Film Festival 2024
September 2024
One for the Road, our latest vampire film, has been selected for the Ealing Film Festival and due to be screened in November. We're excited to be back at Ealing after Typical? was screened there last year.
Image Description: Black and white photo of three vampires (actors Ciara McKenna, Kayleigh Orloff and Freddie McConnell) standing in front of trees. White laurels are in the top right and white writing inside them reads Official Selection Ealing Film Festival 2024.
Sarah Leigh selected for the Aluna Labs 2024 with Aluna Entertainment
August 2024
Sarah has been selected to the Aluna Labs 2024.
The Aluna Entertainment talent development programme is "dedicated to nurturing female-identifying and non-binary filmmakers from across the UK. The initiative has been crafted to develop skills and relationships in film, through tailored Q&As, pitch forums and mentorship. This year we searched for bold, uncompromising or ambitious ideas for a debut feature in any genre, from filmmakers who are looking to push the boundaries of what audiences expect from UK film."
Image Description: The post is divided into 16 small squares with a black border. In the top left hand corner is a black background with white writing that reads Aluna Labs, followed by 15 headshots of filmmakers.
ONE RULE...screenplay longlisted for the Slick Films Fund
August 2024
One Rule...has been longlisted for the Slick Films film fund. One Rule...is a story about two sisters visiting an abortion clinic and met with protests of a different kind.
Image Description: A white title page of a script with typed black writing that reads “One rule…written by Sarah Leigh” in the centre. At the bottom left of the photo are black laurels casing the words “Slick Films Official Longlist 2024 Slick Films Fund”
TYPICAL? selected for the International Festival Reflection of Disability in Art 2024
August 2024
Typical? has been selected for the International Festival Reflection of Disability in Art 2024 and will be screened in December.
UPDATE (Dec 2024) - Typical? won the "1st Film Award" for Best Film at the festival.
Image Description: A wide shot of three people sitting in a school gymnasium. Two sit on the left - a woman sits on a blue chair and a man in a wheelchair - and a woman in a suit sits on the right on a blue chair. The gym has a green floor and windows lined across the top close to the ceiling. White laurels are on the top right with the words “Official Selection International Festival “Reflection of Disability in Art” 2024”
Award for Typical? Production Designer Isobel Baker-Smith
August 2024
Typical?'s production designer, Isobel Baker-Smith (Diz) has been awarded an Exquisite Production Design award from the Screen It International Film Festival for their work on Typical? Congrats Diz!
Image Description: A white background with colourful laurels in blue, green, yellow and pink that enclose the writing (in black) "Exquisite Production Design Screen It International Film Festival 2024".
Directing award for Typical? at the RTS-East awards 2024
June 2024
Sarah Leigh won the Craft-Directing award for Typical? at this year's RTS-East awards. The judges said that "the sincerity and power of this film deeply impressed the judges, likewise the director's confident, original and creative direction which quietly brought out the layers, the anger and the fire they wished to convey."
Image Description: Writer-Director Sarah Leigh and actor Amy Forgacs stand and smile at the camera. Amy holds the RTS award and Sarah points to it. There is a white backdrop behind them with the words Royal Television Society and their logo of a gold mask.
Typical? selected for the Imagine This Women's Film Festival 2024
August 2024
Typical? has been selected for the Imagine This Women's Film Festival 2024 and will be screened in NYC during the festival run of September 20th-22nd
Image Description: A couple stand in shadow in a dancing pose - actors Lydia Denning and Jamie Jeyes. They are side on and are looking at one another. There is a net curtain in the background bathed in yellow light. Gold laurels are in the bottom centre and within them words that read Official Selection Imagine This Women's Film Festival 2024.
One for the Road selected for the Sunrise Film Festival 2024
August 2024
One for the Road has it's premiere at the BIFA-qualifying Sunrise Film Festival 2024! The screening sees the return to where it all began for Typical?, and we're excited to be recognised again by the team.
Image Description: Black and white photo of a vampire (actor Julian B Evans) with another vampire behind him (actor Kayleigh Orloff). White laurels are in the top right and white writing inside them reads 2024 Official Selection Sunrise Film Festival and BIFA qualifying festival.
Typical? selected for the Oscar-qualifying Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2024
August 2024
Typical? has been selected for the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2024 and will mark it's premiere in India.
Image Description: A couple sit on a couch. The woman wears a pink shirt and glasses. The man wears a blue shirt and looks at his phone. The living room is dimly lit and there is a tall lamp and coffee table in the room. White laurels at the bottom left of the photo case the words “Official Selection Bengaluru International Short Film Festival”. On the bottom right in gold writing are the words “Oscars. Qualifying festival for the Academy Awards”
Typical? score and film selected for the Voices Rising Film Festival 2024
August 2024
The Typical? score, composed by John King, and film have been selected for the Voices Rising Film Festival in New York.
Image Description: A white man with short hair sits in a wheelchair holding a magazine. There is a cuppa and some paper on a coffee table next to him. A blue wall in the background has the white laurels and words that read Official Selection Voices Rising Film Festival
2024.
Founder of Inclusivity Films has advocacy photo campaign selected to be exhibited at Bute Street Festival 2024
August 2024
Sarah Leigh has a series of photos in The Labour of Care exhibition at Bute Street Festival 2024. Sarah is also nominated for the Best Artist award and will be taking part in a Q&A.
Sarah says, "When you become a carer, you become an advocate. My photos show how inaccessible the world can be to us but also how we can make change and be more inclusive."
Image Description: A round blue sign with a white smiley face and the words “I am an inclusive playground” with braille underneath sits in grass. The Bute Street logo of a face sits beneath it. Underneath that the words “Artist Q&A with Sarah Leigh".
Typical? selected for the Screen It International Film Festival
August 2024
Typical? has been selected for the Screen It International Short Film Festival 2024 and will mark it's premiere in Australia on Sunday 25th August.
Image Description: Photo inside a nightclub with pink lighting. There are neon yellow and blue lights on the back walls. A man stands centre-frame and faces the camera. He wears a red t-shirt and has glasses on. He holds a red cup. People in white masks stand to his left and right and they all wear black. White laurels are in the bottom right corner. Inside the laurels it reads “Official Selection Screen It International Film Festival 2024”
Typical? selected for the Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival 2024
August 2024
Typical? has been selected for the Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts, and will screen on Saturday 24th August.
Image Description: A wide shot of a park with lots of trees in the background. A mother and daughter play catch in the middle of the frame. A couple walk side by side on a footpath to the right of frame. At the bottom left are white Laurels which read Official Selection Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival 2024.
Sarah Leigh guests on Series 5 episode 7 of the Neurodivergent Moments podcast
July 2024
Sarah was invited to be a guest on the latest episode of the Neurodivergent Moments podcast with comedians Abigoliah Schamaun & Joe Wells.
Sarah speaks about her own neurodivergence, access and inclusion in the film industry and her advocacy work in healthcare.
The episode can be found here.
Image Description: A bright blue background with three people (Sarah, Joe & Abigoliah) standing behind a pink cartoon brain. Yellow writing reads Neurodivergent Moments with Sarah Leigh. There is a blue lightning bolt in the pink brain and purple stars in the picture.
HEARTBREAK screenplay selected for the
Micro Minute Film Festival 2024
June 2024
Thank you to the Micro Minute Film Festival for selecting screenplay HEARTBREAK.
Read more about Heartbreak on our Slate page.
Image Description: white background with black laurels. Black writing inside the laurels reads Official Selection Micro Minute Film Festival 2024.
Craft and scripted nominations for Typical? at the RTS-East awards
May 2024
Typical? has been nominated for Scripted Single or Series and Craft: Directing awards at the Royal Television Society-East awards.
A ceremony will take place on June 21st.
Image Description: Pink background with a photo in the middle of a group of people, some with their arms folded, sat at exam desks in a school gymnasium.In gold writing at the top the words RTS East Programme Awards 2024 Scripted Single or Series Nominee. In gold writing at the bottom are the words Typical? Inclusivity Films / Bedazzle inclusive Productions. The ARU and Royal Televsion Society logos are at the bottom right.
Typical? selected for the Brighton Rocks Film Festival
May 2024
Typical? has been selected for the BIFA-qualifying Brighton Rocks Film Festival taking place in June.
Typical? will feature in the Inclusivity Rocks section.
Image Description: A couple stand in shadow in a dancing pose - actors Lydia Denning and Jamie Jeyes. They are side on and are looking at one another. There is a net curtain in the background bathed in yellow light. Rainbow laurels are in the bottom left corner and within them words that read Official Selection Brighton Rocks Film Festival 2024.
Inclusivity Films x GiF
Screening
May 2024
Inclusivity Films and Girls in Film collaborated on an Inclusivity Screening of d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent filmmakers. The event included a screening of 7 short films followed by a Q&A with attending filmmakers.
Image Description: B&W photo of a filmmaking panel on chairs. There is a screen behind them with the words Inclusivity Screening & “Screening films by d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent filmmakers.
Neurodiversity in Film & TV event
May 2024
Sarah was invited by Percy & Warren PR and WFTV to be on a panel about neurodivergence in the industry. Rebecca Cooney moderated and then wrote an article about the event in the May issue of Broadcast magazine.
Image Description: white background with black & white headshot of Sarah Leigh. A quote underneath reads: “We got Covid supervisors instantly when the pandemic happened, why can’t we do that with access.” And the words Broadcastnow.co.uk May 2024
Typical? selected for the London Independent Film Festival; Panel talk too!
April 2024
Typical? was selected for the London Independent Film Festival in their shorts category.
Inclusivity Films was also invited to curate and moderate a panel on inclusion and accessibility in the industry, including practical steps that filmmakers can make to ensure access for all.
Image Description: Two women, actor Amy Forgacs (left) and writer-director Sarah Leigh (right) stand on the red carpet and smile at the camera. Amy wears glasses and a floral dress. Sarah has brown hair and wears a navy suit jacket, black dress and boots. There is a backdrop of various film logos and the London Independent FF logo strip.
Inclusivity Films founder, Sarah Leigh, joins
Creative UK's EDI
advisory group
April 2024
Sarah Leigh has joined the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion advisory group at Creative UK.
Sarah says "I am thrilled to be joining Creative UK's EDI advisory group. Creative UK has been a support to me since starting Inclusivity Films and I'm happy to be involved and advise on what true inclusion and access can look like in the film and TV industries."
Image Description: A red background with the white Creative UK logo at the top and white words that read Announcing the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group (EDIAG).
Typical? selected for the Cleveland International
Film Festival
March 2024
Typical? has been selected for the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival in April.
Congrats to the whole Typical? team!
Image Description: A couple sit on a couch. The woman wears a pink shirt and glasses. The man wears a blue shirt and looks at his phone. The living room is dimly lit and there is a tall lamp and coffee table in the room. White laurels at the bottom left of the photo case the words “Cleveland International Film Festival”. On the bottom right in gold writing are the words “Oscars. Qualifying festival for the Academy Awards”
Sarah Leigh selected for the Raising Films
Creative Residency
March 2024
Sarah was selected for the Raising Films Creative Residency in Bath, Somerset. The residency gave Sarah the chance to work on her debut feature script.
Raising Films are an organisation supporting parents and carers in the film industry.
Image Description: White background with the Raising Films logo in the middle - Black writing that says Raising Films with the ‘i’ letters in yellow and orange and varying sizes.
Typical? selected for the Leuven Disability Film Festival
March 2024
Typical? has been selected for the Leuven Disability Film Festival in Belgium.
Image Description: A white man with short hair sits in a wheelchair holding a magazine. There is a cuppa and some paper on a coffee table next to him. A blue wall in the background has the white laurels and words that read Official Selection Leuven Disability Film Festival
2024.
ONE RULE...screenplay selected as a Semi-Finalist to the Athena Abortion Pipeline
project
March 2024
ONE RULE... has been selected as a Semi-Finalist to the Abortion Pipeline Project at the Athena Film Festival - the project supports a variety of narrative film projects which centre abortion.
Image Description: A white title page of a script with typed black writing that reads “One rule…written by Sarah Leigh” in the centre. At the bottom left of the photo is a light blue logo with words in white that read “Athena Film Festival” Barnard and a blue laurel to the left. Next to it are black laurels casing the words “Semi-Finalist Abortion Pipeline Project 2024”
Typical? selected for the WFTV-UK Short Film Club
February 2024
Typical? has been selected for the Women in Film & Television (UK) Short Film Club and will be screened at an event at the Genesis Cinema, London.
Image Description: A beige background with red and yellow shapes and flowers in the background. In the centre is a white film poster with a photo of a lone chair in the middle. On the poster black words read “A Bedqzzle inclusive theatre film with Inclusivity Films” and the title “Typical?” Above the poster is the WFTV logo and the words in black “WFTV short film club” and in red “Monday 19th February 18:30-21:30”. Underneath the photo words read “written and directed by Sarah Leigh” in black writing.
Honorable Mention for
Sarah Leigh at the
London Director Awards
February 2024
Sarah has received an Honorable Mention at the London Director Awards for her work on short film, Typical?
Image Description: Grey background with a faded photo of Tower Bridge. A gold border line surrounds a logo of a director chair and the words in white, London Director Awards 2024. In gold centred words it reads Honorable Mention Director Short Film, and in white writing Typical? Sarah Leigh. in the bottom right corner italicised writing reads London Director Awards and below it in white writing, February 16, 2024.
Changing Places toilet installed at acute hospital
February 2024
Sarah has been campaigning for a Changing Places toilet to be installed at her local acute hospital since presenting to the trust board in 2022.
Work was complete in February 2024 and the new Changing Places toilet is now open for visitors in Lister Hospital, Stevenage. The toilet includes an adult size change bed, hoist and privacy screen.
Sarah says "The toilet is life-changing to us and to many other families who access the hospital. Unless admitted, we had nowhere to change our son other than a toilet floor. This should not be happening in 2024. I'm pleased that advocacy won and we now have a more accessible toilet facility at the hospital."
Image Description: An accessible Changing Places toilet with blue and white walls, an adjustable adult size change bed and a hoist. Also in the room is a mirror on the wall, a bin with a yellow bag, a lower sink, handwash and paper towel.
Girls in Film x Inclusivity Films: Callout for short films by d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent filmmakers
January 2024
We're excited to be collaborating with Girls in Film and hosting a screening to celebrate the work of filmmakers who identify as d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent.
If this sounds like you, submit your short film here.
Deadline 16th February 2024.
Image Description: a white background showing a picture through a window of Sofia Coppola as she looks through a director’s viewfinder. Pink text below reads “Short Film Callout.” and “GIF X Inclusivity Films’ with black Girls in Film logo in the bottom.
TYPICAL? selected for the Northampton Film Festival 2024
January 2024
Thank you to the Northampton Film Festival for selecting Typical? as part of their 2024 Official Selection.
Typical? will screen on March 11th and is nominated for an award at the festival.
Image Description: White background with black laurels. Inside the laurels black writing reads Official Selection Northampton Film Festival 2024.
TYPICAL? wins the Best First Film (Kat award) at the Together! Disability Film Festival 2023
November 2023
Thank you to the Together! Disability Film Festival for choosing Typical? as part of their 2023 line up and for awarding us with Best First Film.
The jury said, “A sensitive and multi-layered exploration of the lived experiences of Disabled people, performed and directed with distinction. We look forward to seeing the next one.”
Image Description: White background with the words Best First Film in red writing. A photo is central of actors Nick Bennett, Ciara McKenna, Julian B Evans & Bryony Moss sitting at exam desks in a school gymnasium.
NEWBORN screenplay selected for Shockfest 2023
November 2023
Thank you to Shockfest Film Festival 2023 for selecting screenplay NEWBORN into your festival!
Image Description: Black background with white Lightning bolts as laurels and in red writing ‘Official Selection’ and in white writing ‘Shockfest Film Festival 2023’
HEARTBREAK screenplay selected for the
One Minute Story Film Festival 2023
November 2023
Thank you to the One Minute Story Film Festival, a part of the North East Film Festival (USA), for selecting screenplay HEARTBREAK.
Image Description: white background with black laurels. Black writing inside the laurels reads Official Selection One Minute Story Film Festival 2023.
TYPICAL? wins at the UN's Big Syn Film Festival and plays on the Piccadilly Lights
November 2023
Typical? won Best UK Marginalised Short by a disabled filmmaker at the Big Syn Film Festival. Clips from the film's trailer were shown on the big screens at Piccadilly Circus, London.
Full clip can be found here.
Image Description: The Piccadilly Lights. On the screen is a hand stamping paperwork and the words Typical? Best disabled filmmaker Sarah Leigh.
TYPICAL? selected for
The Film Collective Short Film Festival 2023
October 2023
Thank you to The Film Collective Short Film Festival for selecting Typical? as part of their festival.
The festival “is all about diversity, inclusion and showing films which display a wide variety of subject matters.” We’re so grateful to be selected for this festival! Thank you!
Image Description: White background with black laurels. The words Official Selection The Film Collective Short Film Festival 2023 sit within the laurels.
TYPICAL? nominated for Best Ensemble Cast; The Bull Award; and The Audience Award at the Birmingham Film Festival
October 2023
Thank you to Birmingham Film Festival for selecting Typical? for their 2023 festival.
Image Description: Photo inside a nightclub with pink lighting. There are neon yellow and blue lights on the back walls. A man stands centre frame and faces the camera. He wears a red t shirt and has glasses on. He holds a red cup. People in white masks stand to his left and right and they all wear black.
TYPICAL? wins a Special Recognition award at Lowestoft Film Festival
October 2023
Short film Typical? won the Special Recognition award at this year's Lowestoft Film Festival.
Watch the trailer for Typical? on our 'Films' page. Typical? is a co-production between Inclusivity Films and Bedazzle inclusive Productions, written and directed by Sarah Leigh.
Sarah also spoke with Shelby Cooke of the FILM EAST podcast ahead of the festival. The episode can be found here.
Image Description: A wooden and perspex award that says “Lowestoft”, “2023” and “Special Recognition TYPICAL?” In the background is a shimmery curtain
Inclusivity Films featured in British Cinematographer magazine Sept/Oct 2023
September 2023
Inclusivity Films are featured in the Sept/Oct edition of British Cinematographer magazine, as part of their diversity & inclusion feature.
Read the full article here.
Image Description: A photo of an article in a magazine. The words are blurred. There are two headshots at the bottom - one of Sarah Leigh and one of Victoria Emslie (Primetime founder). At the top is a photo from the set of Typical?
TYPICAL? selected for the Courage Film Festival
September 2023
Thank you to the Courage Film Festival for selecting Typical? for their 2023 festival.
The Courage Film Festival is for "films that make a stand and fight for what they believe is right.” A great fit for our film. They also selected the screenplay at last year's festival.
Image Description: Varying shades of red laurels with red words in the middle that read Official Selection Courage Film Festival 2023.
Inclusivity Films founder graduates from WFTV scheme
September 2023
Sarah Leigh, founder of Inclusivity Films, has graduated from the Women in Film & Television 2023 mentorship scheme.
Sarah has been mentored by directors in the industry and is excited to continue the relationships she has made on the scheme.
More info here.
Image Description: A group of women look at the camera and smile. they are stood in a bar.
TYPICAL? selected for the Ealing Film Festival 2023
September 2023
Thank you to Ealing Film Festival for choosing Typical as part of their 2023 line up.
Typical? will be screening in November. Details coming soon.
Image Description: Black laurels with the words, in black font, Official Selection Ealing Film Festival 2023
TYPICAL? in the Official Selection at the Lowestoft Film Festival 2023
September 2023
Thank you to Lowestoft Film Festival for selecting Typical as part of their "It's Giving...Drama" strand at this year's festival.
Typical? will be screening in October. Tickets available here.
Image Description: Black laurels with the words, in black font, Official Selection Lowestoft Film Festival 2023
TYPICAL? places as a semi-finalist in Oscar, BAFTA & Canadian Screen-qualifying film festival
August 2023
Short film Typical? was made a semi-finalist in the Oscar, BAFTA & Canadian Screen-qualifying festival, Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival 2023.
#ImageDescription Black laurels frame the words 'Semi Finalist Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival 2023' on a white background.
Founder of Inclusivity Films receives the inaugural Kimberley Marren Recognition Award at the London Rolling Film Festival
August 2023
Founder of Inclusivity Films, Sarah Leigh, received the inaugural Kimberley Marren Recognition award at a ceremony in London on August 13th. Sarah was presented the award by The Fan Carpet & the London Rolling Film Festival 'in recognition of her exceptional achievements for inclusivity in the film industry'. Thank you to Kimberley's family, The Fan Carpet & the London Rolling Film Festival for this honour.
News articles can be found below:
The Fan Carpet
Live London Post
#ImageDescription Headshot of Kimberley Marren. Kimberley has bobbed red hair and is smiling at the camera. She wears earrings, a necklace and a printed top.
Inclusivity Films on panel at The Media Production & Technology Show @ Kensington Olympia
May 2023
Sarah Leigh recently chaired a panel on inclusion and accessibility in production alongside Deborah Williams OBE of Creative Diversity Network; Diane Janssen, co-founder of Inclusive Talent (alongside Sarah); and Bryony Moss, actor and advocate.
#ImageDescription Blue background with shadow photo of a crew on set - pink and white writing on the right hand side reads 'The Media Production and Technology Show'; Headline Sponsor Neon with their logo; 10th May 12:40 in white writing and grey background in the top right corner. The headline reads 'Accessibility & inclusion in production'. Below are four circle photos - left to right: Deborah Williams OBE Creative Diversity Network, Diane Janssen Inclusive Talent, Bryony Moss Actor, Sarah Leigh Inclusivity Films & Inclusive Talent. A bright pink bottom strap line reads 'Register now: mediaproductionshow.com
Founder Sarah Leigh chosen as a
Women in Film & Television mentee for 2023
January 2023
Sarah has been chosen as a WFTV mentee for 2023 alongside other women in the industry. She recently gave a seminar on accessibility & inclusion in the TV & film industry, and what can be done to make change.
#ImageDescription Pink background with dark pink ribbon stripe effect on the right hand side of the picture. At the top centre is a logo that reads 'Women in Film and Television' & the letters 'wftv' in black. Underneath is white italicised writing that reads 'Representation on & off screen: Advocating for inclusion & accessibility in TV & film'. There is a black line underneath & a round photo of Sarah Leigh - a white woman with shoulder length brown hair. She wears a black jumper & smiles at the camera. The name 'Sarah Leigh' is written in black underneath & then the words 'Writer / director / producer' in white underneath.
CALL IT OUT in the Official Selection of the New York International Screenplay Awards
April 2023
Thank you to the New York Internationals Screenplay Awards for selecting CALL IT OUT
LOGLINE: A neurodivergent woman discovers she has powers to stop men who harass her on her daily journey.
#ImageDescription white background with black laurels framing the picture. In the middle black writing that reads “Official Selection New York International Screenplay Awards 2023”
Teaser trailers & GoFundMe released
for micro-documentary
BASIC RIGHTS (w/t)
December 2022
3 x teasers have been released for the forthcoming micro-documentary, Basic Rights (w/t), from Inclusivity Films.
The teasers can be found on the Inclusivity Films Instagram account. A GoFundMe has also been set up to help with finishing / post-production costs.
Image Description: White background with black writing that reads An Inclusivity Films production; Basic Rights; Directed by Sarah Leigh; Shot by Jack Everitt
ONE DAY screenplay
Official Selection at Flickers' Rhode Island Film Festival 2022
August 2022
Thank you to Flickers’ Rhode Island Film Festival for selecting the One Day screenplay for their festival. RIFF is a BAFTA, Academy Award, & Canadian Screen award qualifying festival. We're excited to have this important script recognised in this way.
Image Description: White background with black laurels surrounding the central words in black “Official Selection” and underneath Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival 2022.
TYPICAL? screenplay Official Selection at the New York International Women Film Festival August 2022
August 2022
Thank you to the New York International Women Film Festival for including the TYPICAL? screenplay in their selection.
Screenplay by Sarah Leigh
Adapted from the original Edinburgh fringe play “I’m Non-Typical, Typical” by Matthew Hunt
Image Description: White background with black laurels surrounding the central words in black “Semi-Finalist” and underneath "New York Women International Film Festival August 2022"
TYPICAL? shoot success
August 2022
Photography has completed on the Typical? shoot! We achieved at least 50% of cast and crew identifying as d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent AND shorter working days. More about the experience and the people involved can be found here.
Image Description: A woman stands in a gym left of frame and wears a headset. She has dark brown bobbed hair and wears a black jumper, long pink skirt and white trainers. She looks at a monitor. There are crew in the background, a boom mic and lighting set up.
TYPICAL? screenplay selected as Screenplay of the Month at the Changing Face International Film Festival
June 2022
The screenplay of Typical? has been selected as ‘Screenplay of the Month’ (May) by the Changing Face International Film Festival.
The festival select “thought-provoking, challenging, and engaging films, web series, and screenplays that are part of the changing face of film.”
Typical? is written by Sarah Leigh & adapted from Matthew Hunt's stage play, I'm Non-Typical, Typical. It is a co-production between Bedazzle Arts & Inclusivity Films
Image Description
A white background with black laurels surrounding the words in black “CFIFF” and a cube on the top line, underneath the words “Changing Face International Film Festival” followed by a black underline and then the words “Screenplay of the month” and “2022” all written in black.
Sarah gives talk to the Royal College of Nursing on accessibility to healthcare
June 2022
Founder of Inclusivity Films, Sarah Leigh, was invited to talk at the launch of the 100 years of Learning Disability Nursing exhibition at the Royal College of Nursing in London.
Sarah said “There’s much to do but there are ways to make healthcare more accessible and inclusive & to uphold basic human rights.”
Read more here.
Image Description:
Sarah Leigh stands at the lecture and holds her hand to her chest. She has long dark hair and brown eyes. Her mouth is open mid speech. She wears black & purple crystal bracelets & a black charm bracelet with a bat charm and the letters J & N charms, she wears black nail varnish, a black top & a blue skirt.
Inclusivity Films founder featured on Primetime for Neurodiversity Celebration Week
March 2022
ScreenSkills award bursary for Directing course @ NFTS
February 2022
Thank you to ScreenSkills who have contributed to the development of Inclusivity Films by awarding a bursary for a Directing course at the National Film & Television School (NFTS).
ONE DAY chosen as a finalist in the
Outstanding Screenplay competition
December, 2021
One Day has been chosen as a finalist in the Outstanding Screenplay short film competition. Finalists all receive feedback from Oscar-winning judges, the latest version of Final Draft and a Screenwriting course from Script Reader Pro.
