Celebrating diversity

First film festival dedicated to screening work by dyslexic and neurodivergent story-makers is launched.

by Amber Wilkinson

DYSPLA International Moving Image Festival
DYSPLA International Moving Image Festival

This week sees the start of the first film festival dedicated to screening the visual innovation of dyslexic and neurodivergent story-makers, running from March 14-18 at the The Crypt Gallery in London.

DYSPLA International Moving Image Festival aims to blur the lines between the traditional film festival format and the art gallery experience, while exploring the definition of the ‘dyslexic aesthetic’.

Video Artist D-Fuse has created a multi-channel transparent screen and smoke installation and moving image film, ‘FIGHT’, produced by DYSPLA and co-directed with Lennie Varvarides and Kazimir Bielecki.

The gallery space will feature video projectors, smoke and multiple films playing simultaneously. The audio for the films will only be available via radio transmitter. Every audience member will receive a personal miniature radio on entering the space - which they will use as an audio guide, to navigate through the gallery, in search of each ‘story’.

A spokeswoman said: "We want the audience to experience what it feels like to be neurodivergent; how it feels to be disoriented and to accept the organised chaos as their ‘right of passage’ into their own extraordinary imagination.

"Here is our artistic experiment: will the audience create their own narrative to make sense of the work, or will they, like an obedient soul, look for the original story?"

The festival will screen the work of more than 20 neurodivergent filmmakers, opening with an Awards Ceremony on March 14, followed by the panel discussion on the dyslexic aesthetic on March 15, chaired by Deborah Williams of the Creative Diversity Network.

For more details on the festival and to buy tickets, visit the official site.

Share this with others on...
News

The serpent's call Composer Stephen Lukach on creating tension and awe in Beware Boiúna

Care and community Mike Leigh and the Tender Loving Care cast on humanity and looking out for one another

The aftermath Jorge Thielen Armand on returning to Venezuela to make Death Has No Master

Making magic Gregg Bishop on witches, inspiring actors, instinctive filmmaking and The Heretiks

The road to The Guests Cristina Diz and Stefan Butzmühlen on working together on their latest film

Beyond Saturn Tina Gharavi, Tala Calil and Assaad Bouab on Shadows Of Beirut

Puppy love Brad Pitt on the 'moving' Heart Of The Beast shoot thanks to furry co-star Odin

More news and features

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


San Sebastian Golden night for Tender Loving Care


Toronto La Bola Negra wins People's Choice award


San Sebastian Naomi Watts dedicates Donostia Award to Lynch


San Sebastian Werner Herzog honoured


Dinard Full programme announced


LFF Full programme announced