Shorts Programme: It’s Not You, It’s Ableism

Continuing the legacy of the festival’s iconic ‘It’s Not You, It’s Ableism’ strand, this short film programme is a vibrant, eclectic collection of disability stories and filmmaking, weaving animation, comedy, and documentary genres. From smart-mouthed teenagers to the portrait of a soulful, lifelong love to political queer crip performance art, this bonanza of disabled-led talent has it all.

Introduction by We Crip Film Festival programmers Tara Brown and Charlie Little plus a post-screening Q&A with filmmakers Emma Malins, Klarissa Webster, and Flora Martyr. More speakers tbc.

Content warning

This short film programme contains references to medical trauma, institutionalisation, suicide, sexism, sexual violence, and abuse. It features animated depictions of hallucinations, hospitalisation scenes, brief vomiting, animated nudity, scenes of a sexual nature, ableism, ableist and derogatory language, grief, and death.

Featured short films

Living with a Visionary
Director Stephen P. Neary
After 50 years of marriage, John must care for his wife while learning to live alongside her vivid hallucinations.

Picture This
Director Emma Malins
An experimental documentary depicting Tim’s love of cinema while living with sight loss and how storytelling connects us all.

Pretty Sick
Director Zed von Benzon, Aster Emchild
Disabled artist and activist Sara brings a unique brand of creative and political expression through their mobility aids.

Sexability
Director Anne-Christin Plate
Vibrant animation expresses a comprehensive experience of sensuality from a group of learning disabled artists.

Each To Their Own World
Director Klarissa Webster
An intimate insight into the lives of deaf people, navigating a society built for the ‘fully abled’.

I Wish I Was There
Director Flora Martyr
Whilst relaxing on holiday, a woman receives a series of phone calls from the hospital.

ZAGÊRO
Director Victor Di Marco, Marcio Picoli
It’s so normal to be normal, isn’t it? This radical queer performance film with an all-disabled cast and crew begs to differ.

Little Monsters
Director Pablo Léridon
In this comedy, a visually impaired teen and his wheelchair user frenemy butt heads on an especially chaotic journey to school.

Access information

At We Crip Film Festival we prioritise access. This screening will be in relaxed conditions; however, we will have some reserved seating. If you are unable to book your preferred seat, we have reserved seats for specific access needs including:

• BSL interpretation seats
• Wheelchair user spaces

This short film programme will have on-screen descriptive subtitles. Closed audio description will be available via headsets. Please note that one of the films, Picture This, will have open audio description.

If you have any specific seating requirements that you would like to discuss, please get in contact with our Box Office Team either via email or telephone. Our email is [email protected] and dedicated Access Booking Line is: 020 7960 2102 (lines open from 12pm to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 12pm to 6pm on Sundays). We will be more than happy to help!

For further details of access at BFI Southbank, please see the Access information page.