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OSCAR CONTENDER EQUAL PLAY NOW AVAILABLE TO WATCH GLOBALLY ON YOUTUBE FROM CHANNEL 4 DOCUMENTARIES
EQUAL PLAY explores the transformative power of sports for disabled people through the stories of two British children.
WATCH NOW - EQUAL PLAY
DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
https://youtu.be/a-SrgNqnhlw?si=9xahSFSKTNBN28z3
Runtime: 23:30
WINNER: BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
2024 LITTLE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: BEST FILM, VISIBLE
2024 NORTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: AUDIENCE AWARD
2024 UNINTERRUPTED FILM FESTIVAL
FINALIST - 2024 BROADCAST SPORT AWARDS
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2024 HAMPTONS INTL. FILM FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2024 PALADINO D’ORO SPORT FF
The award-winning documentary EQUAL PLAY explores the transformative power of sports for disabled people through the stories of two British children. Marley discovers his confidence in boxing, and Tammy is inspired by a Paralympic star to explore wheelchair racing. Both of them face discrimination in their access to sports and PE, and the film follows their fight against these systemic barriers. By capturing the nuanced joy and empowerment that sport brings to disabled individuals, EQUAL PLAY highlights the positive change that inclusion can create.
Lily Ahree Siegel, Director of EQUAL PLAY, said ”This subject matter is particularly close to my heart due to personal experiences. I was the kid who found PE daunting, questioning why I couldn't perform as effortlessly as others. Maybe I wasn't meant to be an athlete, or even a bit sporty, as I am a filmmaker after all! But I now recognise the pivotal role that disabled role models could have played in shaping my childhood.”
Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4, said “Equal Play is about kids needing equal access to sport and the importance of that for disabled children - particularly the confidence and joy it can create for them. The right to play sport and exercise and enjoy the positivity associated with it is for all and every body should have the chance to move and get to accessible facilities.”
David Clarke, CEO, ParalympicsGB, said ”Only one in four disabled children in the UK say they take part regularly in sport at school. The scale of the problem is huge, with 1.5 million disabled children comprising 15% of the school population. Disabled children are being sidelined as pressures mount on teachers to deliver inclusive PE without the training, funding and confidence to do so, meaning kids are going without sport and play - fundamentals of their happiness, confidence, physical and mental health.”
The Equal Play impact campaign launched at a ParalympicsGB reception during Paris 2024, which saw Lisa Nandy, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, stating her passionate support for the campaign after watching the film with Tammy and Marley and their families. Nandy said: “I am in awe at that film… I don’t know if I’ve ever been more moved than by the stories of Tammy and Marley and your incredible families. I’m shocked and appalled to learn from Equal Play that only one in four disabled young people can access sport at school. We are determined as a government that is going to change.” ParalympicsGB are working to ensure the UK government implements these changes - more information here.
Forty-five percent of the crew who made EQUAL PLAY are disabled. EQUAL PLAY was developed in accordance with FWD-DOC disability guidelines and the expert advice of Disability Consultant Lindsey Dryden. The crew were hired through various organizations and groups dedicated to disability inclusion, including Disability Arts Online, D&I, FWD Doc, and DANC. For Harder Than You Think Productions’ Greg Nugent “the diversity and inclusiveness of the crew is at the heart of the company’s ethos. Our goal is always to make films that go way beyond the usual in terms of inclusive and representative production standards – we want to inspire others in the industry to be more open to disability inclusion.”
EQUAL PLAY is among a slate of Paralympics-themed films, TV shows and podcasts produced by Harder Than You Think Productions, which also include the podcast Rising Phoenix: What Does It Take? and the Emmy award winning Rising Phoenix Paralympics documentary franchise.
The film world premiered at the second edition of the Uninterrupted Film Festival in L.A. in July, winning its audience award.The sports film-themed event is a joint venture between Tribeca and LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s storytelling brand Uninterrupted, with the selection committee led this year by sports James, Naomi Osaka and Joel Embiid. EQUAL PLAY has also played in the following festivals and received a number of awards:
The number of children with disabilities globally is estimated at almost 240 million, according to the most recent UNICEF report. In a recent research review, The Conversation reported that children, youth and adults with disabilities are up to 62 per cent less likely to meet the World Health Organization’s physical activity guidelines than the general population. This is because people with disabilities face over 200 barriers to doing physical activity, two of the largest being built environments and transportation. For example, most public playgrounds, swimming pools, and outdoor tracks are built in ways that make them inaccessible to wheelchair users.
EQUAL PLAY is directed by Lily Ahree Siegel. Produced by Robert Ford. Executive Produced by Koji Yanai, Greg Nugent, Anna Scott-Marshall, Barnaby Spurrier, and Jack Thorne. Co-produced by Calum Campbell. Edited by Laura Spini. Consulting Editor Jinx Godfrey Composed by Amy McKnight, Cinematography by Natalja Safronova, Animation by Podenco / Antoni Sendra. Disability Consultant: Lindsey Dryden. Sound Design & Mix by Will Cohen.
2024 LITTLE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: BEST FILM, VISIBLE
2024 NORTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: AUDIENCE AWARD
2024 UNINTERRUPTED FILM FESTIVAL
FINALIST - 2024 BROADCAST SPORT AWARDS
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2024 HAMPTONS INTL. FILM FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2024 PALADINO D’ORO SPORT FF
The award-winning documentary EQUAL PLAY explores the transformative power of sports for disabled people through the stories of two British children. Marley discovers his confidence in boxing, and Tammy is inspired by a Paralympic star to explore wheelchair racing. Both of them face discrimination in their access to sports and PE, and the film follows their fight against these systemic barriers. By capturing the nuanced joy and empowerment that sport brings to disabled individuals, EQUAL PLAY highlights the positive change that inclusion can create.
Lily Ahree Siegel, Director of EQUAL PLAY, said ”This subject matter is particularly close to my heart due to personal experiences. I was the kid who found PE daunting, questioning why I couldn't perform as effortlessly as others. Maybe I wasn't meant to be an athlete, or even a bit sporty, as I am a filmmaker after all! But I now recognise the pivotal role that disabled role models could have played in shaping my childhood.”
Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4, said “Equal Play is about kids needing equal access to sport and the importance of that for disabled children - particularly the confidence and joy it can create for them. The right to play sport and exercise and enjoy the positivity associated with it is for all and every body should have the chance to move and get to accessible facilities.”
David Clarke, CEO, ParalympicsGB, said ”Only one in four disabled children in the UK say they take part regularly in sport at school. The scale of the problem is huge, with 1.5 million disabled children comprising 15% of the school population. Disabled children are being sidelined as pressures mount on teachers to deliver inclusive PE without the training, funding and confidence to do so, meaning kids are going without sport and play - fundamentals of their happiness, confidence, physical and mental health.”
The Equal Play impact campaign launched at a ParalympicsGB reception during Paris 2024, which saw Lisa Nandy, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, stating her passionate support for the campaign after watching the film with Tammy and Marley and their families. Nandy said: “I am in awe at that film… I don’t know if I’ve ever been more moved than by the stories of Tammy and Marley and your incredible families. I’m shocked and appalled to learn from Equal Play that only one in four disabled young people can access sport at school. We are determined as a government that is going to change.” ParalympicsGB are working to ensure the UK government implements these changes - more information here.
Forty-five percent of the crew who made EQUAL PLAY are disabled. EQUAL PLAY was developed in accordance with FWD-DOC disability guidelines and the expert advice of Disability Consultant Lindsey Dryden. The crew were hired through various organizations and groups dedicated to disability inclusion, including Disability Arts Online, D&I, FWD Doc, and DANC. For Harder Than You Think Productions’ Greg Nugent “the diversity and inclusiveness of the crew is at the heart of the company’s ethos. Our goal is always to make films that go way beyond the usual in terms of inclusive and representative production standards – we want to inspire others in the industry to be more open to disability inclusion.”
EQUAL PLAY is among a slate of Paralympics-themed films, TV shows and podcasts produced by Harder Than You Think Productions, which also include the podcast Rising Phoenix: What Does It Take? and the Emmy award winning Rising Phoenix Paralympics documentary franchise.
The film world premiered at the second edition of the Uninterrupted Film Festival in L.A. in July, winning its audience award.The sports film-themed event is a joint venture between Tribeca and LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s storytelling brand Uninterrupted, with the selection committee led this year by sports James, Naomi Osaka and Joel Embiid. EQUAL PLAY has also played in the following festivals and received a number of awards:
The number of children with disabilities globally is estimated at almost 240 million, according to the most recent UNICEF report. In a recent research review, The Conversation reported that children, youth and adults with disabilities are up to 62 per cent less likely to meet the World Health Organization’s physical activity guidelines than the general population. This is because people with disabilities face over 200 barriers to doing physical activity, two of the largest being built environments and transportation. For example, most public playgrounds, swimming pools, and outdoor tracks are built in ways that make them inaccessible to wheelchair users.
EQUAL PLAY is directed by Lily Ahree Siegel. Produced by Robert Ford. Executive Produced by Koji Yanai, Greg Nugent, Anna Scott-Marshall, Barnaby Spurrier, and Jack Thorne. Co-produced by Calum Campbell. Edited by Laura Spini. Consulting Editor Jinx Godfrey Composed by Amy McKnight, Cinematography by Natalja Safronova, Animation by Podenco / Antoni Sendra. Disability Consultant: Lindsey Dryden. Sound Design & Mix by Will Cohen.
