Young Campaigners Recognised At London Film Festival

I have just recieved the press release below from Trailblazers.

A documentary by a group of young disabled campaigners from across the country who have fought for better access at UK cinemas is to be recognised at the London Short Film Festival next month.

Lights, Camera, Access?, which tackles the issues facing disabled cinema-goers by the 400-strong Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Trailblazers group will be screened on January 9 at Amnesty Human Rights Action Centre, as part of a special event examining disability and film. The award-winning short documentary highlights problems uncovered during an investigation into the cinema industry by the Trailblazers’ in spring 2011, including inaccessible auditoriums, uncomfortable or even painful views of the screen, difficulties booking tickets for wheelchair accessible seating and for carers online, and poor disability awareness amongst staff. The film was recently shown in Parliament to an audience of MPs and the Chief Executives of the UK’s major cinema exhibitors, as part of an ongoing campaign to raise standards for disabled movie-lovers.

In spring 2011, more than 100 Trailblazers undertook undercover investigations at 125 venues across the UK to examine the issues faced by disabled customers. Their campaign was sparked after young disabled people told of struggling to enjoy a trip to see a film with friends and family – even at cinemas just a few years old, and has been backed by film industry figures including Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Miranda Richardson and Sigourney Weaver.

Lights, Camera, Access? will be screened alongside a documentary by disabled film-maker and Trailblazers campaigner, Jon Hastie, who is severely disabled due to the muscle-wasting condition, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Jon travelled around the UK to produce a series of interviews with inspirational men affected by Duchenne, to motivate and inspire the next generation of children born with the condition. Film-makers, enthusiasts and campaigners will be invited to share their thoughts on disability within film, how a film can be used as an awareness raising and campaigning tool, how young disabled people can get involved in filmmaking and both the practical challenges and issues of bringing disability issues into film. The session will be chaired by blogger, speaker and Editor of online magazine Disability Horizons, Martyn Sibley.

Bobby Ancil, Trailblazers Project Manager said:

“Lights, Camera, Access? was produced to make the cinema industry sit up and take notice of the inconsistent service that disabled customers are facing across UK cinema chains. As a result of this campaign, we have had the opportunity to sit in a room with the Heads of the UK’s three major cinema chains and discuss face to face the issues that we have encountered. With 12 per cent of the cinema-going audience having a disability, this is simply not a group of consumers that the industry can afford to ignore.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to screen our documentary at the London Short Film Festival, and hope to encourage other young campaigners to get involved with groups like Trailblazers and make their voices heard.”