Widening the Lenses
Making Space for Alternative Visions
Project summary
ESC Solidarity Project (Litu x Down Tenerife)
San Cristobal de La Laguna, Tenerife, España
This was a participatory filmmaking project developed by Asociación Litu in collaboration with Down Tenerife, with the support of the European Union’s European Solidarity Corps programme.
Over the course of twelve months, we facilitated an ongoing process of audiovisual training and creative exploration alongside Down syndrome participants from Down Tenerife. Participants explored key concepts of cinematic language and were introduced to technical tools including cameras, microphones, lighting and chroma setups.
The core goal of the project was to encourage the participants to take ownership of the entire creative process, from idea development to directing and performing, in a context designed for accessibility, care and creative autonomy.
Results
The project culminated in two core outcomes: a collection of original audiovisual works, including eight micro-short films and a project documentary, and a practical DIY guide designed to help others replicate and adapt the experience in different contexts.
Eight micro-shorts and a project documentary
At the heart of the project are eight original micro-short films, each ideated, directed and performed by the participants. Through games, improvisations, scriptwriting, and experimentation, the participants shaped personal narratives that reflect their sense of humour, emotional worlds, and cinematic imaginations.
These shorts were produced during a three-day intensive shoot, where participants assumed creative leadership with the support of a technical team. The films, along with a behind-the-scenes project documentary, were publicly premiered at Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA), an event that marked not only the end of the process, but also the recognition of the participants as authors, artists, and storytellers.
Watch the micro-shorts and project documentary here
A DIY guide for inclusive filmmaking
As part of the process, we developed a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) guide to document the project’s methodology and share its tools with other facilitators, educators, and community organizations. The guide includes adaptable resources, activity proposals, accessibility tips, and reflections on facilitating inclusive filmmaking processes with neurodiverse groups. It covers everything from technical training and creative exercises to communication strategies and group dynamics. Rather than presenting a rigid formula, the guide invites readers to experiment, listen, and co-create.
Project made possible by:
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Injuve, the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.