Randan Receives FOCUS Award for Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives
Photo by: Ross Gilmore
On Friday, 7 February Randan attended the first ever FOCUS Awards hosted by Film City Futures and received an award for Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion initiatives.
The award was presented by our collaborator Sarah Brown at STV and accepted on behalf of Randan by James Heath. Randan’s Reece Cargan was away in Norway and wrote James this speech to read:
“Thanks so much to FOCUS for this award and the recognition. It’s received with warmth and huge thanks. Even better is that it's handed over by Sarah - someone we admire, respect and hope to keep collaborating with.
We’re very proud to be recognised as a supporter of inclusive practice that centre creatives, crew and contributors. Initially at Bombito and now at Randan - as a result of personal taste and creative partnerships - the slate naturally centered on queer and LGBTQIA+ voices.
Something I will always continue to be passionate about. Going forward we’re committed to working with more creatives from a larger variety of cultural and diverse backgrounds - that better reflect the whole of Scotland and the UK. The voices, ideas and stories on our screens could be much more vibrant, representative and authored - if more ethnically diverse and actual working-class people were able to get a leg up, experience or a commission.
Working-class people are the majority, in the UK, but only 8% of creatives in TV and film are from working-class backgrounds - we want to call on the people in this room to help change that.
Thanks so much to everyone at FOCUS for their help and continued support and to each and every person Randan is working with: who enable us to proudly hold up this award and celebrate our shared success - in a room full of our peers.
CHEERS.”
A selection of our current projects include:
A feature documentary that tells the story of the introduction of a homophobic law, Section 28 by the British government in the 1980s and the subsequent fight back and repeal, “Don’t Say Gay” directed by Sarah Elizabeth Drummond.
Our feature film, “A Night Like This” follows Lukas and Oliver as they confront their struggles while forming a deep connection over the course of one night in London. This is the first feature for director Liam Calvert and a world premiere will be announced very soon!
Our LGBTQIA+ feature film,“Committed” is a fearless comedy-drama by Phillip Wright, that follows Jay Murphy – a charismatic but deeply troubled young man – as he rebels against his sectioning at a psychiatric facility. This film will be pitched at Glasgow Film Festival as part of the BFI supported Funny Features lab.
Our feature documentary “Your Honour” directed by Bircan Birol follows Efruz, a young Kurdish woman, fighting to become the first openly transgender lawyer in a rapidly changing Turkey; seeking hope, solidarity and healing within her community. This film is currently in late-stage development with Screen Scotland.
Our feature “Hina & Kara VS The Assassin” by Raisah Ahmed (Screen International Rising Star Scotland 2024), currently in development, is a female action film set in Scotland, which follows the story of South Asian, Hina and Japanese Scottish, Takara as the two navigate friendship breakups and reconnecting with those you treated badly, making amends and surviving your own stupid mistakes.
Our feature film “Boifriend” by Jack Goessens is about a fresh-faced lesbian who starts to explore dating and the LGBT community when it quickly becomes clear the story doesn't end once you come out. We’re also producing Jack’s short “Boihood” which follows a trans man who’s worried his dementia-suffering dad won’t recognise him, propelling him on a surrealist journey to create a memory box for his father. This is an international short which will enable us to continue our relationship with the Netherlands.
We are very grateful to accept this new, exciting award and to everyone at FOCUS for their help & continued support along with every one of our collaborators at Randan, who without them, this award wouldn’t be possible.
