Eighteen short films produced through Bus Stop Films’ Accessible Film Studies Program are set to tour nationally, kicking off with a gala event in Perth on Sunday December 3, hosted by Julia Hales.

The films were created by 180 filmmakers, all young adults with mild/moderate intellectual disability or autism. The participants in the Accessible Film Studies Program worked with their tutors to create short films alongside industry professionals who mentor the students on set.

The films include dramas, documentaries and comedies and even a WWE inspired rock musical.

Bus Stop Films, winner of the 2023 SPA Award for Breakthrough Business of the Year, is a disability-led not for profit social enterprise which uses filmmaking and the film industry to raise the profile of people with disabilities, on both sides of the camera. Bus Stop makes films with, for and about people with disability and from diverse communities and backgrounds.

Bus Stop’s COO and resident producer Dianna La Grassa produced the films, together with co-producer Cyna Strachan and a team of 10 Inclusive Producers’ Attachments, who were supported by the state screen agencies Screen NSW, VicScreen, the South Australia Film Corporation, Screen Tasmania, Screen Canberra, Screen Queensland and Screenwest, and by Screen Producers Australia.

The series of accessible events kick off in Perth on International Day of People with Disability on Sunday December 3, with Brisbane on December 5, Launceston on December 6, Melbourne on December 7, Adelaide on December 12, Canberra on December 13 and Sydney on December 14.

Other hosts of the galas include actor Anna McGahan in Brisbane, Love on the Spectrum star Ronan Soussa together with comedian Elle Dawe in Sydney, comedian and proud Ngarrindjeri woman Kimmie Lovegrove in Melbourne, body positivity advocate April Watson in Canberra, Mayor of Launceston Mathew Garwood  in Launceston and, in Adelaide, local actor Alirio Zavarce.

All events start at 6.30pm sharp.

All films are captioned and all events will be Auslan interpreted.

Tickets are $25 and $10 for concession and include refreshments.  Tickets available here: https://events.humanitix.com/tours/bus-stop-films-showcase-2023

Dates:

Sunday December 3: Perth, WA

Tuesday December 5: Brisbane, QLD

Wednesday December 6: Launceston, TAS

Thursday December 7: Melbourne, VIC

Tuesday December 12: Adelaide, SA

Wednesday December 13: Canberra, ACT

Thursday December 14: Sydney, NSW