IDPwD 2022 Panel: Visible behind and in front of the camera

This International Day of People with Disability, Anthea Williams invites filmmakers Sofya Gollan, Ben Lewin, Chloé Hayden and Ana Tiwary to discuss access to directing, writing and producing stories on screen and what the industry needs to do to ensure we can tell our own full and brilliant stories with authenticity.

Anthea Williams is an award-winning theatre director and emerging filmmaker. She researched writer development as part of a Churchill Fellowship, worked in development at Causeway Films, was Associate Director New Work at Belvoir and Associate Director Bushfutures at London’s Bush Theatre. Anthea writes about disability representation for The Guardian.

Sofya Gollan is an award-winning screenwriter, director, playwright and developer working across storytelling genres and platforms. She identifies as a creative with lived experience of disability, which has informed a range of accomplished films and plays. Sofya leverages 20 years’ of advocating for change in cultural practices and dynamic representation on screen of the broad and diverse audiences within Australia, leading the design and delivery of disability-led screen programs across the screen, arts and disability sector.

Ben Lewin is one of Australia’s most successful international directors. Over his decades-long career Lewin has worked as a writer and director in film and television. His works include Falling for Figaro (2021), The Catcher was a Spy (2018) Please Stand By (2017), Speechless (2017) and The Sessions (2012). At the age of six, Lewin contracted polio and he has used crutches since this age. Lewin’s work has often told the stories of characters with disability.

Chloé Hayden is a speaker, actor and author of a bestselling book, ‘Different Not Less’ A Neurodivergent's Guide to Embracing Your True Self And Finding Your Happily Ever. Chloé stars as Quinni in Netflix’s Heartbreak High. She is Australia’s first ever mainstream autistic actress, and one of the first autistic characters played by an autistic person.

Ana Tiwary is a director/producer and runs indiVisual films, a production company that specialises in multicultural stories. Ana created 'Diversity in Australian Media' over 13 years ago to push for intersectional approaches to include cultural diversity, disability, gender, class and other marginalised communities. Ana works part-time as Strategy and Development Executive at the Australian Director's Guild. 

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This event will be Auslan interpreted

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