Our Work
Women continue to struggle for representation across the film industry globally. One social barrier particularly affects women, although it applies to everyone: Family vs. Film.
At Raising Films we believe conversations make change happen, and we want things to change. We are losing too much talent to the choice many filmmakers are forced to make, between being a parent and making films. We don’t believe this choice is necessary, but rather a product of social and economic conditions, and we want to start a conversation about how change can be made for filmmakers who want to have a family and continue their careers.
This is about development, sustainability and diversity. Raising Films aims to address one of the issues that prevents many female filmmakers from pursuing their careers, to enable filmmakers with families to keep working and feel supported during demanding times in their personal lives, and to challenge at a structural level the demands the film industry makes of all of us.
Raising Films aims to provide information, education and solutions and our work focuses on:
- Enabling financial assistance for child and elder care.
- Encouraging industry-wide adoption of flexible working and access to child and/or elder care.
- Formalising a way to combat discrimination.
- Normalising conversations around caring commitments with employers.
We put these ambitions into action by working with industry partners and the film and television community and lobby to to ensure these and other solutions are enacted.
Our writers in residence – part three
The third instalment from our writers in residence, who took the opportunity of a free week-long residency space for focused work. These residencies were made possible by the generosity of three members of our [...]
Our writers in residence – part two
Here's the second in our mini-series from the writers who took part in our free week-long residencies. Our aim was to help writers who needed some focused time away from their caring responsibilities to [...]
Screen International
Cannes Marché du Film launches scheme to support delegates attending with children The Cannes Film Festival and Marché du Film announced on Tuesday that they are launching a new initiative, aimed at supporting film [...]
Our writers in residence – part one
Back in January we announced our support for six writers through the provision of free week-long residency spaces, to be taken up in March. Our aim was to help writers who needed some focused [...]
More stories on caring
The launch of our Carers Survey prompted two people working in production to get in touch with their experiences. We're grateful to be able to share their stories here... Male, working in production [...]
Ming Ho joins our Advisory Board
We're delighted to welcome Ming Ho to our Advisory Board. In addition to her extensive career in writing for film, TV and radio Ming brings with her first hand experience of being a carer. [...]
Interventions
We Need To Talk About Caring
A survey into caring within the screen industries.
Raising Our Game
Implementing a framework of accountability for parents and carers.
Making It Possible
The first nationwide look into the impact of caring on career development across the industry.
Our MAKING IT POSSIBLE Research & Findings
Respondents were 78% female and 21% male, and the survey observed that women tended to carry more of the burden as carers.
79% of parents and carers told us that their caring labour had a negative impact on their work in the UK film and television industries.
63% of respondents work freelance or are self-employed, and financial uncertainty is a major concern.