BFI supports cohort of Disabled filmmakers to attend IFFR Pro at International Film Festival Rotterdam

The BFI is supporting a delegation of Disabled film professionals to attend and participate in IFFR Pro on 1 to 5 February 2025, as part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). One of the first delegations of its kind, it is supported by the BFI International Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, and led by the BFI Inclusion team in collaboration with International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).  

IFFR is a leading international film festival which actively supports new and adventurous filmmaking talent. Through its film programme and industry offer, IFFR seeks to expand, enrich and challenge people’s views of the world and each other through film and audiovisual arts. IFFR Pro is integral to IFFR’s ambition to nurture talent, providing them with the tools and networks to develop their projects and careers. 

A cohort of four filmmakers have been selected: Ella Glendining, Anna Keeley, Sarah Leigh and Cristián Saavedra. They will participate in IFFR Pro’s CineMart co-production forum and Talent Development initiatives and attend the Pro Hub programme of industry discussions, workshops, and mentoring meetings. They will also have access to the Festival’s screening programme and many networking opportunities.  

This is one of a number of delegations supported by the BFI International Fund, via its Group Attendance programme, which enables UK screen professionals to attend key international events to develop their international networks, and to build relations with potential international co-producers and collaborators. Focusing on Disabled talent for the first time specifically for a festival/market delegation, the BFI has worked with the IFFR team to prioritise access so the cohort can maximise the opportunities offered by IFFR.  

The selected participants will be accompanied by members of the BFI Inclusion team as well as an external access coordinator, all of whom will help to manage their interactions with the market as well as providing on-the-ground coordination, travel and access support. The BFI will also accommodate selected participants to bring their personal assistants where required. 

“We are excited to work in collaboration with the BFI International Fund to create more equitable opportunities for UK-based Disabled filmmakers to enter the international film market, and have found great partnership with the IFFR team,” says Bhavini Goyate, Inclusion Manager at the BFI. “We look forward to supporting Ella, Anna, Cristián and Sarah, four brilliant filmmakers, so they can make the most of the fantastic opportunities offered by IFFR Pro.” 

“IFFR Pro is especially thrilled to welcome this delegation of filmmakers from the UK to participate in the wide range of professional opportunities we present,” says Marten Rabarts, Head of IFFR Pro. “We recognise the BFI’s leadership in changing the dial on inclusion for film production and for film festivals – especially in their commitment to breaking down structural barriers for disabled filmmakers. This visit also gives us an opportunity to knowledge-share with our peer colleagues as we strive to improve inclusion for our own event in Rotterdam and in the wider international film industry.” 

Ella Glendining is writer/director/actor dedicated to telling authentic disabled stories. In 2024 Ella received a BAFTA nomination for her feature documentary Is There Anybody Out There? and has been nominated for two Scottish BAFTAs. She was a recipient of the BFI & Chanel Filmmaker Award 2023, celebrating ‘creative audacity’, and was named a BAFTA Breakthrough 2023. Ella is writing a historical drama, with Development Funding from the BFI, called Curiosities of Fools, and is adapting her short Pyramid of Disunion into a feature with BBC Film. Ella is also an Access Coordinator.  

Anna is an emerging producer and a Production and Development Executive at Escape Plan, where she was recently Production Exec on Love Lies Bleeding (A24/Film4) directed by Rose Glass. She is developing her debut feature to produce for Escape Plan, an English-French language psychological thriller by Liam White, Punchdrunk, which is set in Marseilles and will be a UK-French co-production. She’s also leading Escape Plan’s move into international co-productions, speaking several languages including fluent Spanish. Previously, Anna worked in Mexico City at production company, Agencia Bengala (I’m No Longer Here, Northern Skies Over Empty Space) and produced the world’s largest international student film festival, Watersprite. She has an upper limb disability and chronic pain. 

Sarah Leigh is an RTS-award winning filmmaker and founder of Inclusivity Films, a company committed to at least 50% of cast and crew identifying as d/Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent on every production. Sarah’s films and screenplays have been selected at Oscar, BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festivals, and her screenplay Call It Out was a finalist in this year’s IMDb Script to Screen competition. Sarah’s advocacy work includes developing Healthcare Passports with the NHS and campaigning for Changing Places toilets. She is on the EDI Advisory Group of Creative UK, and was a WFTV mentee in 2023. 

Cristián Saavedra is a Chilean filmmaker based in Wales, with an eclectic background in journalism, music, and television. He captures compelling stories that blend pop culture with inclusive messages, drawing from his experiences as a sight-impaired filmmaker. His work explores how artists with disabilities can ignite a powerful movement of authenticity and self-expression. With the support of Ffilm Cymru, he is currently developing his first feature film, which delves into the fascinating life of the iconic 90s pop star, Scatman John.