Rebekah Fortune

Having not being diagnosed with Autism until she was in her 30's Rebekah struggled to fit in whilst she was growing up. She always felt on the periphery of any group and used her vivid imagination and creativity to enable her to process her emotions. Rebekah set up production company Seahorse Films in 2011 with longtime collaborator and writer Peter Machen to develop a slate of films that combine creativity with commerciality, and that actively encourages more opportunities for women and disabled artists both in front and behind the camera. Something Blue the story of a trans gender teen was her first short film which was selected for film festivals around the world, it was also selected by Channel 4 for their shooting gallery. In 2017 Rebekah’s micro-budget debut feature “Just Charlie” was released to critical acclaim, receiving many awards including The Audience Award at Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival Ecrans Junior Award, it has appeared in festivals worldwide and was nominated for 2 BIFA’s. Just Charlie secured international distribution in the USA, Canada, China, Taiwan, and Theatrical Release extensively in Europe. Just Charlie was ***** rated on Sky Cinema where it premiered on 16/04. The film has received exceptional reviews around the world. Rebekah received funding from BFI for a short film "Pennywort" which combines live-action and animation to tell the story of a young woman with ASD which will be released later this year and has also received BFI early development funding to create a feature based on the same themes. 

Her short film Her Majesty about a woman with Dementia and her young carer has just been completed and has already been selected for Oscar qualifying LA Shorts festival, the script won best script at Prague Film Festival, short listed at Hollyshorts and was in the top 1% of BBC Writers-room receiving superb feedback. 

Rebekah has several other projects at various stages of development including co writing “Barren” a post-apocalyptic female-driven Western, and Bebe AI an Sci Fi Drama about the disposability of Disability.  She has mentored for BFI Network, appeared as a panellist at numerous film festivals, is a member of Cinesisters and Directors UK where she was selected for the “Inspire” programme and sits on the access and inclusion committee.  Additionally Rebekah works extensively with young actors with Disabilities preparing them for careers both in front of and behind camera. 

Along with preparing the feature version of Her Majesty she is set to start filming her second feature Learning To Breathe Under Water produced by Jack Tarling (Gods Own Country) which was selected for Berlinale Talents where it was nominated for the VFF talent award it has signed with Bankside Films and has received and LOI for distribution in the UK from Picturehouse.