Unauthorised Absence
Support the film shining a light on the lived experience of school distress
Stage: Post Production - SoundUnauthorised Absence is a 15 minute narrative short film that shows the immense harm caused by school attendance policies, including the use of criminal penalties like financial fines and court prosecutions, on the families of children who are unable to attend school.
At a time when media attention and public discourse is focused on data, statistics and labels, our film is designed to evoke empathy and understanding for the real families, and the real stories, behind the headlines.
It is our ambition to use this film to promote meaningful conversation about systems that are not working: systems that are meant to offer care and support, but instead become sources of stress and trauma.
We have collaborated with some of the UK’s most brilliant filmmakers, many of whom are parents themselves, to bring this story to life in a way that is authentic, meaningful, and beautiful. We also are working with parents, educators, academics, campaigners and organisations to promote better education and wellbeing for all children, regardless of their unique barriers to learning.
For us, this starts by offering policymakers the chance to see and experience these issues through the eyes of a family living them. That really is the power of Film.
This project has been community crowdfunded so every contribution, no matter the size, helps us to finish the film and bring it to the audiences who need to see it most.
Support the films creation and impact in real time.
Your support would be so gratefully received and directly feed into these areas:
❋ Production Funding
Including sound design and music studio costs, plus access materials (captioning, subtitles, reduced sound option), the poster and trailer.
❋ Festival Submissions
A crucial step in getting the film seen is maximising distribution opportunities and media coverage on the UK’s film festival circuit.
❋ Educational Screenings
We’d like to make the film available to parents, educators and local authorities to help give a more nuanced understanding of school distress.
❋ Parliamentary Outreach
We want to host a screening of the film in Parliament, alongside cast, crew and campaigners, to speak directly to policymakers about system reform.
Writer & SEND mum Jo Clayton, produced by award-winning filmmaker & mentor Natalie Lauren, directed by Georgia Parris.
With executive producers BAFTA nominee Alix Wilton Regan, two-time BAFTA winner Anna Maxwell Martin, and Minerva Virtual Academy founder Hugh Viney.
Featuring the work of BAFTA winning actor Cathy Tyson, BAFTA winning editor Zeb Achonu, and BAFTA nominated colourist Greg Fisher.
Made with the support of the brilliant teams at Sunbelt Film & TV (Rentals), Company 3 (Grade), Sound Disposition (Mix), Intermission (Trailer) and O Education Group (Campaign).