BEHIND THE LENS

WHEELCHAIR USERS TELL THEIR STORIES

IN ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARIES

FWD-Doc is also thinking beyond the filmmaking process, pushing for more accessibility at film festivals, from screening facilities to after-parties.

James LeBrecht notes that deals for financing, distribution and collaboration get done at festivals, and if they are not accessible to all, the playing field is not level for disabled documentary makers. 

To this end, FWD-Doc created a Film Event Accessibility Scorecard, a handy checklist to steer film festivals away from private screenings that are inaccessible, or after-parties held at lounges that are downstairs, upstairs or are otherwise inaccessible.

With personal memories of how things were, he appreciates the progress the industry has made on including people with disabilities.

“Thank goodness there are easier entry points than there were 30 years ago. 

Being able to use an iPhone, being able to do a podcast, being able to do edits — the price points are much lower than they used to be,”
he says.