Ep 067: TIFF Special: Building Inclusive Futures
We're doing something a little different today. When we were at TIFF, we had the opportunity to go to the perspectives panel -- Building Inclusive Futures: The Means of Accessibility. The panel discussed accessibility and redefining perceptions of disability within the industry and beyond. We have included several clips from the panel that open up a broader discussion.
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The panel included Kyla Harris (chair of We Crip Film for the BFI and producer of Patrice: The Film), Viktor Korotovskyi (freelance photojournalist and the subject of Olivier Sarbil's documentary Viktor), Sean Towgood (Toronto-based writer, actor, and creator of You’re My Hero), Aria Mia Loberti (an American actress, writer, human rights advocate, Fulbright Scholar, and star of All the Light We Cannot See), and Olivier Sarbil (French documentary filmmaker and cinematographer of Viktor). It was moderated by Rayhan Azmat, a senior finance executive in Media and Entertainment, a disability advocate, and an accomplished keynote speaker.
The conversation explores challenges, awareness, and opportunities for people living with disabilities, aiming to further inclusivity and broaden the narrative of accessibility.
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Music: Deppisch
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ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Kyla Harris (any pronoun) is a writer, actor, and producer whose work centers intersectionality as a lens to cultivate inclusion and connection. She is chair of We Crip Film for the BFI, a BAFTA member, and an advising member of FWD-DOC. Their work has been featured in British Vogue, The Guardian, Stylist, and the Royal Television Society. Harris co-wrote, co-created and starred in the comedy-drama television series We Might Regret This for BBC Two. They produced the feature documentary, Patrice: The Movie, premiering at this year’s Festival.
Viktor Korotovskyi is a freelance photojournalist based in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and the subject of Olivier Sarbil's documentary Viktor (24) premiering at this year’s Festival. This is Korotovskyi’s debut film appearance.
Aria Mia Loberti is an American actress, writer, human rights advocate, and Fulbright Scholar. She stars as Marie-Laure Leblanc in Netflix's adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel All the Light We Cannot See. Her performance received rave reviews and was nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the Independent Spirit Awards. It also led TIFF to honour her among the Festival’s Rising Stars in 2023.
In addition to acting, Loberti currently serves as a UNICEF ambassador, focusing on the intersection between the climate crisis, gender parity, and education access. She is also the face of the French skincare and beauty brand L’Occitane en Provence.
Olivier Sarbil is a French documentary filmmaker and cinematographer now based in New York. For over two decades, he’s worked as a conflict photographer. Viktor (24) is his latest film.
Sean Towgood is a Toronto-based writer, actor and creator of You’re My Hero. A Radio Broadcasting graduate from Humber College, Sean won an Emerge Media Award for the short radio documentary Stigma. He created and co-produced the audio documentaries Independence Day and Welcome To The Party for CBC’s The Doc Project; Epilogue for BBC’s Short Cuts series; and was associate producer on Equal Too (Stripped Media/Harder Than You Think). Select theater credits include Wounded Soldiers (4th Line Theatre, Ontario tour) and My Life on the Short Bus, a self- created solo piece (Soulo Theatre Festival). He has also contributed as a writer for the Streams and Variations podcast. Sean has also become an advocate for the disability community, particularly in the film and television industry.
Rayhan Azmat - Moderator
Rayhan Azmat is a senior finance executive in Media and Entertainment, a disability advocate, and an accomplished keynote speaker. He currently serves as Vice President and Head of FP&A at Cineplex Entertainment. As a wheelchair user himself, he is committed to advocating for disability rights and inclusion serving as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for multiple organizations including the Disability Screen Office and DEEN Support Services. Rayhan obtained his chartered accountant designation at PwC, serving clients including IMAX, Sony, and CBS. He has over 20 years of expertise in various media including television and film.
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