. in I woAStairs
2020 – Writer/Producer
Family
12 minutes

ABOUT

Sonor, is a talented young man who uses a wheelchair. He needs training to land his dream job. When issues of access and the attitudes of others about disabilities threaten to stand in his way, it is his young sister’s love and unwavering support that inspires him to keep going!

I developed and produced this Australian Mongolia co-production with Bus Stop Films and the Arts Council of Mongolia. I worked with a variety of stakeholders to bring the inclusive filmmaking program I developed in Australia to the local Mongolian community.

Stairs and the Oscars.. Stairs is the winner of the 2021 Best Live Action Short Film at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and has been submitted to the 94th Academy Awards! It is Mongolia’s first inclusive film and a testiment to the power of inclusive filmmaking. In September 2020, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars® eligibility in the Best Picture category, as part of its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative. Whilst these standards only apply to the Best Picture category (From 2022) our film Stairs meets each of the standard’s criteria around on screen representation and narratives, creative leadership and project team, industry and access opportunities and audience development, especially around Women, Ethnic groups and People with disabilities.

Director
ZOLJARGAL Purevdash

Writers
NOMIN-ERDENE Turmunkh

ZOLJARGAL Purevdash

GENEVIEVE Clay-Smith

Producer
GENEVIEVE Clay-Smith

Co-Producers
GERELSUREN Ganbold

ZOLJARGAL Purevdash

Key Cast

“Sonor”
DAVAASUREN Bayarmunkh

“Misheel”
EGSHIGLEN Bayarbat