About us

Why captions matter

Many deaf and hard-of-hearing people rely on captions, so going to a film screening can be a difficult and isolating experience for them when access isn't available. That's why we've set up The Film Bunch.

We hold events in London to showcase short films from upcoming filmmakers and to bring film fans together. It’s a chance for people to indulge themselves in great films, in great company.

Our events provide captions and British Sign Language interpreters. As The Film Bunch is growing, we’re taking our commitment to accessibility to the next level and exploring new approaches to ensure that everyone can enjoy the magic of cinema.

Our story

The Film Bunch was founded in 2016 by Shaz Begum. Shaz was born partially deaf and has worn hearing aids for most of her life. After graduating, she joined the film industry and started freelancing as an editor. It was important for her to attend film events for networking opportunities but she found them to be inaccessible.

Because the films lacked captions, Shaz couldn’t always follow the stories and often felt excluded from the conversations afterwards. This prompted her to start up The Film Bunch to create a space where both deaf and hearing communities could enjoy the films.

She met founding member Nina Thomas, who is also deaf, and could relate to Shaz’s experiences of exclusion and isolation due to lack of access.

Being an artist, Nina sought out ways to remain actively involved in the arts, but has found many opportunities aren’t accessible to her. She often blogs about these experiences to encourage change.

Shaz and Nina’s shared frustrations have led them to work together to make The Film Bunch what it is today. They’re passionate about the need to provide quality and accessible opportunities in the arts industry and want to see captions used more widely, from YouTube to blockbuster cinema.