Under the title »Work and Connect - Working with Talents with Disabilities«, a workshop on inclusion and diversity in the film and television industry was held in May for students on the bachelor's film programme at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln. The About Me videos created during the workshop have now been published.
The workshop gave the up-and-coming filmmakers from the fields of directing, cinematography and editing image & sound the opportunity to gain valuable experience in working with actors with disabilities from all over NRW. In this way, they were able to experience inclusion in practice and professionalise themselves as filmmakers in this field. The actors who took part in the workshop have various disabilities, which posed particular challenges and opportunities for the shoots.
The workshop resulted in eight clips with which the participating protagonists can present themselves professionally on the labour market. »If you're seen, you belong«, says actress Carina Kühne in her film, which sums up the aim of the About Me videos.

The project was initiated by Tina Thiele (owner and publisher of the industry platform casting-network - Initiative Cast Me In) and Susanne Grüneklee (Head of Directing at the ifs) as well as experts from the field of inclusion. It was funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

A compilation of the About Me videos can be found on the ifs website (see below), the individual videos can be viewed on the casting-network YouTube channel (link to playlist). Videos are available from Carina Kühne, Jan Dziobek, Lucas Rosenberg, Dodzi Dougban, Jonas Relitzki, Jan Kampmann, Max Mauckner and Sofia Plich.
The film was directed by Kevin Biele, Alejandro Mathé, Antonia Uhl and Mimi Zak. Zoe Dumas, Kim Sophie Hausner, Johannes Schmülling and Björn Weber were responsible for the camera, Mattea Steffens, Alejandro Mathé and Antonia Uhl for editing.
Lisette Reuter with the "Aesthetics of Access" approach, casting director Iris Baumüller (BVC, ICDA) and Anne Zander (actress, deaf supervisor) contributed their expertise as lecturers.
At the Open House day at the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln - on 9 March 2024 - the About Me videos will be presented to the public in the presence of the actors and filmmakers.