Neurodiverse Filmmakers' Showcase  and Networking

As part of our Neurodiversity Film Festival 2025, this screening and networking session is curated by Autism in Translation - showcasing the talents of neurodiverse filmmakers from Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill and Eastbourne.

We are proud to present the following short films ranging from emerging and experienced filmmakers from Hastings and beyond.  The evening will consist of two blocks of short films each followed by a short filmmaker Q&As and a short break.

At the end of the evening we invite you to stay and chat to the filmmakers and find out more other film festivals and industry opportunities.

Curated and hosted by Rachel Lowden of Autism in Translation, and Electric Palace with support from the Oska Bright Film Festival - the world's leading disability film festival, based in Brighton.

The Films and the Filmmakers

Part 1

Ice-Cream Headache (17 minutes) directed by Benjamin K Dyson

• "Whatever you are looking for, is looking for you too”- Saul Williams, Musician /Poet

Benjamin K Dyson captures the anxieties and seeming impossibility of love or making a connection in this charming and hopeful take on online dating.

From his early exposure to film, Benjamin K Dyson wanted to tell stories. Ben studied at college and university before being accepted on the London Film School two-year filmmaking programme and has also been a resident of the Aesthetica Film festival BFI script lab. Benjamin is an energetic, up and coming writer/director, oh and he happens to be neuro-diverse. 

“Being neuro-diverse (autistic) is who I am and I wanted to write and create something athat involved a character naviagating the modern world with a unique perspective. I wanted to show the awkwardness and the light-hearted, funny moments because that’s real life and this is exactly my experience. I embrace my diversity and I’m proud of being part of this world.” - Benjamin K Dyson

160 (1 minute)  directed by Phoebe Sanctuary

This experimental montage of everyday moments takes the audience into a dreamy and expressive zone. Beautiful, evocative and fleeting. The film is directed and shot by Phoebe Sanctuary, an emerging filmmaker from Hastings.

Alternative Histories (4 minutes) Directed by Alice Denny

This short documentary follows two local Hastings artists – Robin Elliott-Knowles and Mark Daniels - in conversation as one prepares for their first solo exhibition funded by Arts Council England. 

Robin Elliott-Knowles is a member of the Neurocollective who made The Stimming Pool (also showing as part of the festival), curator of the Electric Palace B Movie Fan Club and artist. He exhibited the Alternative Histories collection of drawings at 1200 Postcards in late 2024 and this short documentary follows the preparation for this and experience of the final show. 

Exploring Shanadelicour (3.3 minutes) Directed by Bryony Hacker and the Make It! Group 

This joyful animation depicts the imaginary world of Shanadelicour where creativity, joy and inclusivity reign!  ‘Shanadelicour’ is a mashup of names of the 11 learning disabled, autistic and neurodivergent members of the Make It! Group, and it is is a world very different to our own.

Situated on a Möbius strip in outer space, those that live in the world reside in colourful villages. Some live in the mountainous Seraphic Nova Hills (The mountains are made of cheese, of course), and some live below ground in the darker areas of Morganthia. The Shiver Moon shines overhead, and dragons fill the sky. Trees populate the lands, and a cocoa river flows through the valleys. Shanadelicour is home to the Delicorians, a species not defined by the colour of their skin, race, gender, abilities or disabilities. The Delicorians are all about positive health and wellbeing; they eat well, drink plenty of tea (it rains from the sky), exercise regularly, and have many wholesome hobbies. The Delacorians are social creatures, they have their own games, language and even their own Giant Frisbee games and Spider Rodeo competition. The Delacorians are such a happy, healthy and positive species, that we on planet Earth could learn a lot from them. We hope you enjoy the film!

Bryony Hacker is an artist and facilitator at Bloomin’ Arts based in Lingfield, Surrey, which offers creative arts courses to learning disabled, physically disabled and neurodiverse adults. It’s a fun, friendly and relaxed place where you can explore and develop your skills and love of the theatre, dance and visual arts.

Part 2

Mother and Child (5 minutes) Directed by Richard Butchins
The Card Players (6.3 minutes) Directord by Richard Butchins

These two mesmerizing and exquisitely beautiful films show the filmmaker’s process as an artist, setting up and recreating art historical narratives filmed at the Convent of the Holy Child in Saint Leonards. How he gained access to film in this dilapidated building is another story in itself!

Directed by Richard Butchins, autistic artist, documentary filmmaker and writer based in Hastings. Butchins re-examines historical narratives through the lens of disability to convey a contemporary narrative of universal themes of life, death, decay, and melancholy, unearthing the hidden disabled, neurodivergent narratives throughout Western art history. He has exhibited in Edinburgh, London, Buenos Aires and Hastings and was awarded a PhD by Practice at the School of Arts, University of Kent in 2023 despite a lack of formal further and higher education.

People Like Us (25 minutes), An Eggtooth and Social Sundays Production

Directed by Laura Dunton Clarke
Director of Photography Indiana Hamilton-Brown
Editor & Animation Adam Clements
Assistant Director Curtis Arnold-Harmer
Additional production support from Ramsey

"People Like Us" opens a window into the lives of a group of neurodivergent adults who gather every Sunday at The Nest in Hastings Old Town. The Social Sundays group creates an opportunity for people who ordinarily might not find the neurotypical definition of socialising; quite right for them. This short film highlights the importance of creating spaces for everyone.

Eggtooth is the South Coast’s leading creative wellbeing service for children, young people, parents, and professionals.  Based in Hastings, East Sussex, UK and proud partner of the inaugural Neurodiversity Film Festival at the Electric Palace.

I Am Autistic (20 minutes) Directed by Colin Gourlay and John Jones, Aspens

“This is a short film. A simple film. But sometimes, simplicity is all that’s needed. So here’s the point—the message and the meaning. Autism can often seem complicated to understand. And because of a lack of awareness in the wider world, life can become unnecessarily complicated for autistic people.
But for those we support in this film, things have been made simple: they have been met with empathy, empowerment, and the belief that they can. And that’s the truth—this is autism. These are the minds and hearts that, when given the right understanding and environment, can flourish in their creativity and forward-thinking.

We are moving beyond just "autism awareness" and toward something more important: true acceptance. With that, these incredible individuals are not only integrating into society but actively shaping it—contributing in ways that benefit both themselves and the world around them." - Colin Gourlay

Colin Gourlay and John Jones are tutors at the Aspens Roebuck Centre which has always been very person centred and encourages a real sense of empowerment through art therapy. Within the heart of the old town , they have daily sessions in the form of Jewlery making, ceramics, graphics, music,  cooking and of course  the long standing drama sessions. With this in mind, they have produced a short film that gives much needed attention and celebration to the triumphs of each individual.

About our Neurodiversity Film Festival 2025

Neurodiversity Film Festival is a celebration of autism and neurodiversity on screen, making visible the characters and stories that are often invisible in contemporary mainstream cinema.

Presented by autistic and neurodivergent creatives and curators, we bring you a weekend of films showcasing autistic and neurodiverse film characters and narratives.

Developed In partnership with Autism Spectrum, Eggtooth, AMAZE, Project Artworks, The Roebuck Centre and Oska Bright Film Festival, and made possible with funding from the BFI and National Lottery.

Bring a trusted friend for free!

Tickets for our relaxed screenings and Neurodiversity Film Festival in March 2025, include our £10 double ticket option where you can bring a trusted friend along for free! Or come along on your own and meet some friendly faces eager to enjoy cinema in a relaxed environment.

A relaxed screening is where people can watch a film in a relaxed environment. They are different from regular film screenings because:

• the lights are low instead of completely off, so you can still see where you're going
• the volume is a little lower than a standard screening
• you can move around the cinema freely as you wish during the screening
• you can leave the cinema room during the screening and return without having to worry
• you can make noise, stim, and enjoy yourself
• there is a friendly atmosphere
• there are people around if you need any help

These screenings are for anyone who would feel safe and welcome in this environment.

At Electric Palace, we think the cinema should be for everyone, that's why we offer relaxed screenings.

These events are supported by BFI Film Audience Network and Film Hub South East.

In partnership with Eggtooth and  Oska Bright Film Festival.

How you can support the Electric Palace:

• Book a ticket to a screening.
• Become an official Friend of the Electric Palace
• Hire the cinema for a private party
• Buy a gift voucher
• Donate to the cinema
• Sign up to receive our enewsletter
• Play our piano before a screening and see the film for free!
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• Find out more about our ticket prices
• Problem booking online? See our FAQs

Thank you.