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.
