Introducing Film Works for All, a new FWD-Doc member program where participants learn from disabled and values-aligned film and industry professionals. Through workshops and practical follow-up, participants will explore filmmaking and industry skills from a disability perspective.
This year’s workshops focus on communicating about your work and navigating the industry. They’re open to members and by invitation only, with hopes of expanding to the wider film industry in 2027.
The workshops offer a shared learning space, while limited one-on-one office hours give members another way to apply what they’ve learned and get feedback on materials developed during the webinars.
We know learning and applying new skills looks different for everyone. We hope this format offers multiple ways to participate and helps members bring what they learn into their own work.
All sessions will include ASL interpretation, captions, transcription, and visual descriptions of presentation slides. You can share any additional access needs in the registration form.
Check out our Fall 2026 schedule below!
Film Decks with Brittany Franklin (Minorities in Film)
Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 12pm CT (10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm UK)
Learn to create a compelling, accessible visual strategy for your film. We’ll cover the essential elements of a film deck, shaping your project’s story and design, and adapting your deck for funders and collaborators. Live attendees may be eligible to request a later one-on-one office hour with Brittany for questions and feedback on their materials.
Brittany Franklin is an award-recognized director, producer, and cultural strategist building the future of storytelling at the intersection of film, community, and brand power. She is the Founder of Cerebral Entertainment Studios, a creative studio known for turning bold ideas into culturally intelligent, audience-driven narratives — helping creators and production teams position their work for real-world impact and long-term value.
As a Hard of Hearing artist, Brittany's creative lens is rooted in deep observation — emotional subtext, human behavior, and the invisible dynamics that shape identity and belonging in a hyper-connected world.
She is also the Founder of Minorities in Film (MiFiLM), a global collective amplifying BIPOC and disabled filmmakers through programming and cultural convenings across the U.S. and Berlin. Brittany is currently producing NATIVES (in production) and developing a psychological thriller about the consequences of being offline.
Media Training with Meier Galblum Haigh (Disability Culture Lab)
Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 12pm CT (10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm UK)
Build confidence discussing your film and creative practice in interviews, panels, and other public conversations. Clarify your campaign’s purpose and key messages, develop a concise introduction, and practice interview techniques using templates and storytelling examples. Live attendees may also join a follow-up peer practice session.
Meier Galblum Haigh is the founding Executive Director of the Disability Culture Lab (DCL). They are a trans-masc, nonbinary disabled person with nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of movement building, media, and communications.
Grant Writing with Naomi Middleton (AXS Film Fund)
Thursday, December 3 at 12pm CT (10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm UK)
Learn to write a clear, persuasive grant application that reflects your project’s goals and disability perspective. We’ll explore application guidelines, communicating your project’s story and impact, aligning your creative approach and budget with funder priorities, and addressing access needs. Live attendees may be eligible to request a later one-on-one office hour with Naomi for questions and feedback on their materials.
Naomi Middleton is an independent filmmaker who is interested in stories that paint portraits of humanity in conversation with larger issues of human rights and social justice. Her short film HELO (Home, Education, Love, Opportunity) (2019), was an official judge’s selection and opened the Bennington Alumni Film & Creativity Festival in 2019. In 2021 she produced the short, Predicting My MS, for NOVA, which broadcast on PBS/NOVA in February 2022. She was an Associate Producer for Byron Hurt’s NOVA film, Lee & Liza’s Family Tree (2023).
Naomi has worked with AXS Lab, a nonprofit media, technology, and disability rights advocacy organization for almost 10 years. She worked closely with AXS Lab's founder and president, on developing and securing funding for AXS Film Fund, to support documentary filmmakers and nonfiction new media creators who identify as being part of the BIPOC and Disability community. She currently serves as the program's director. Naomi is passionate about the intersection of art, social justice, and human rights, and is committed to fostering meaningful dialogues through creative work in the nonprofit and film sectors.