About Lived Perspectives
a Film Festival dedicated to showcasing short films by filmmakers from under-represented communities with screenings held throughout the year.
Lived Perspectives was started by Ian and Jess, with the support of the University of Winchester, in 2023 when we held our first film festival event. It came from a shared interest in small film festivals and the promotion of grassroots voices from underrepresented and marginalised communities and groups.
We are currently working with two communities:
Divergent Visions showcases films by filmmakers who identify as disabled and neurodivergent. Screenings are held at the University of Winchester and the SHORT CUTS film club in Alton.
Whispers from Iran screens the work of independent Iranian filmmakers who often face censorship or financial barriers preventing them from submitting their films both inside and outside Iran. These events are organised in collaboration with the Southampton Persian Cultural Centre.
The Lived Perspectives film festival aims to only accept films that are made or co-produced by people from the specific communities we are working with. We believe that people in these communities are often excluded and discouraged from participating in filmmaking, film festivals, and the wider film industry due to discriminatory practices and lack of accessibility. We hope that by highlighting the innovative, diverse, and often challenging work from these filmmakers we can support them in sharing the stories they want to tell and create a space for their vision to be shared.
Lived Perspectives C.I.C. is a registered Community Interest Company. As a non-profit, all income is reinvested into the festival and filmmaker support. Our Directors are unpaid, and all other contributors volunteer their time, expertise, and enthusiasm—something we are continually grateful for.
Meet the Team
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Ian Roberts
Festival Director
Ian is working on his PhD at the University of Winchester, looking at the impact and importance of small film festivals. He worked for many years with the Winchester Film Festival in a variety of roles including Filmmaker Liaison and Programmer.
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Jess Redway
Festival Director
Jess is employed as a Lived Experience Lecturer in nursing education where she works to promote co-production and increase the opportunities and space for patient and lived experience voices in healthcare education. She is a late diagnosed Autistic and identifies as Mad due to living with her somewhat erratic brain.
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Sarah Ryan
Festival Director
Sarah works as an Outdoor Programme Leader supporting people in recovery and those experiencing a range of mental health and socioeconomic challenges. For many years she has also worked as a freelance writer and publicist. Mainly she enjoys galivanting around on mountains.
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Liv Wrightson
Communications Director
Liv is a third-year law student with a strong focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion through her work at the University and Students’ Union. She is neurodivergent (autistic and dyslexic) and has always been passionate about raising awareness and creating space for lived experiences.
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Alex Greenwood
Festival Submissions Reviews
Alex is a second year film production student at the University of Winchester with a passion for cinema that showcases the struggle of oppressed people. Outside of his degree, he enjoys studying socialist literature, writing film reviews, and listening to the Beatles.
