Together! Disability Film Festival returns to Stratford from 6-8 December

The Together! 2019 Disability Film Festival takes place from 6-8 December at the Old Town Hall Stratford, showcasing films by Deaf/Disabled filmmakers, and films made by anyone which have a strong central Deaf/Disabled character or theme. Highlights include Sick Bitch Crip, an evening devoted to the films of the late Katherine Araniello (7- 9pm on 6th); Happy Face, a Canadian feature-length drama with actors who have facial differences (6pm on 7th); and a VR foyer dance-film installation; along with a wide range of animations, documentaries and dramas from across the world. The Festival is FREE – the organisers Together! 2012 CIC even serve free drinks and snacks – and open to all.

The Festival’s priorities are providing a platform for strong storytelling, and highlighting the lived experiences of Deaf/Disabled people from diverse backgrounds and the talents of community, emerging and mid-career Deaf/Disabled filmmakers. Many of the films are world or international premieres, and go on to festivals worldwide. The Together! Festival also collaborates to cross-programme films with festivals including Oscar Bright, SuperFest in the US, Kynnskino in Finland and Little Wing. Filmmakers are welcome, and networking is facilitated. The programme is online here: http://www.together2012.org.uk/together-2019-disability-film-festival/

This year the Festival is introducing Kat Awards for Best First Film, Best Animation, Best Dance Film, Best Drama, Best Documentary, Best Film in a Language other than English, Best Accessible Film and Lifetime Achievement. The Awards are named in honour of Katherine Araniello, and are sponsored by Free@Last TV, makers of Sky’s Agatha Raisin drama series, and by the broadcasting union Bectu.

For the second year the ‘D’ rating system will be used when the final programme is published. This is based on the ‘F’ rating system , devised by Bath Film Festival and

now used by festivals around the world. Filmmakers award themselves one ‘F’ each for a Female (self-defined) writer, director, and central character(s) or focus; and one ‘D’ each for a Deaf/Disabled (self-defined) person generating the film’s content, taking overall lead in making the film, and being the focus or star(s) of the film, working with or without support. Both Bath Film Festival and Bectu now support the D system.

Together! 2012 CIC create a fully accessible pop-up cinema in Newham’s glorious Victorian venue the Old Town Hall Stratford, with seating including cushions and bean bags for those who find it more comfortable, and their custom-made ‘VibraBenches’ for those who like to feel the sound. Most films are captioned, and live audio-description is provided on demand. There is (limited) Blue Badge parking at the venue, and Stratford station is on the accessible Jubilee & DLR lines.

For those who can’t attend in person, the Festival offers a virtual viewing experience. On the opening night the programme is re-released on www.together2012.org.uk with the addition of links to available online versions, trailers and download sites, and these remain in the online archive as a portal to Disability Film for programmers and scholars.

For more information contact Laura Horton on 07810 541401 laurahortonfreelance@gmail.com

The Together! 2019 Disability History Month Festival takes place at venues across the London Borough of Newham from 2 November to 13 December 2019. The festival is free and no booking is required. For more details see: http://www.together2012.org.uk/to- gether-2019-disability-history-month-festival/

Old Town Hall, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, London E15 4BQ. 020 3373 7033 /07791 291 685. Nearest tube, overground and DLR stations: Stratford (fully accessible). Bus routes include 25, 69, 86, D8, 104, 108, 158, 238, 241, 257, 262, 276, 308, 425, 473, N8, N86, 010, A9, 741 & UL1. Blue Badge holders can prebook parking; others are advised to use the (old) Stratford shopping centre carpark and cross straight through the centre (the Old Town Hall is opposite the far entrance).

Together! 2012 CIC. Registered office: 90A Tudor Road, London E6 1DR. Together! 2012 CIC is a Community Interest Company No 8443767. VAT: 257 6833 66. info@together2012.org.uk / 07973 252751 / www.together2012.org.uk Facebook: together2012cic Twitter: @ukdpctogether