Our Missions

MISSION 1: CHANGE ATTITUDES TO DISABILITY

The Phoenix Project has a simple objective of dramatically increasing the profile of the Paralympics and in doing so changing attitudes to disability the world over.

It began with Rising Phoenix in 2018. The story of the Paralympics continues with the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, through to Paris 2024 and beyond. Our mission will complete at the closing ceremony of the Los Angeles Paralympic Games in 2028, a games that we believe will have transformed our views and attitudes globally towards disability.

In a unique partnership with the International Paralympic Committee, we will use the power of creativity to change the conversation and create a better, fairer world for those with disability.

Rising Phoenix

Rising Phoenix tells the extraordinary story of the Paralympic Games. From the rubble of World War II to the third biggest sporting event on the planet, the Paralympics sparked a global movement which continues to change the way the world thinks about disability, diversity and human potential.

Distributed on Netflix globally & ByteDance in China during the summer of 2020, the film won critical acclaim and two Sports Emmys.

Equal Too

Equal Too: Achieving Disability Equality, 2021, is a groundbreaking podcast series designed to shine a light on the biggest challenges faced by the disabled community and what it will take to achieve equality globally. The conversation charts the big themes that need to change, from the laws and legislation to the power of the image.

Rising Phoenix: Tokyo (working title)

Rising Phoenix: Tokyo (w/t) began production in March 2020 once the world became aware of Covid 19. As the world began to close down we began a journey of trying to document the threat of Covid on the Games and the athletes who were due to travel to Tokyo.

Tokyo (working title) has become a three-part series following 12 Paralympians from 11 countries and the International Paralympic Committee as they battle Covid-19 to finally stage the Tokyo Games. It provides a unique insight into one of the most extraordinary sporting events in history.   

Rising Phoenix: Paris (working title)

Work has also begun on a feature documentary film to be released in the immediate build up to the Paris 2024 Paralympics. 

We have commenced a global search for a disabled director to lead the team for the project. Our aim is to ensure that 50% of the production team working on the project will be people who identify as disabled. For more information or to contribute please sign up for emails.

 

MISSION 2: CLIMATE ACTIVISM

In 2021, HARDER THAN YOU THINK opened up its second mission on climate change entitled Earth To COP.

Invited by the UK Prime Minister we produced and directed the opening ceremony of COP26 in Glasgow which included the Official Opening Ceremony film that was played to over 140 world leaders who were present in the audience.

The dynamics of climate change need to change. COP is the forum for change but the world is not engaged in it and the leaders who attend do not feel under pressure to deliver. Our aim is to build on the foundation we have created and grow Earth To COP as an idea that engages citizens the world over and forces COP into faster change that will save our planet.

Earth To COP

In a universe of unimaginable size, our planet is unparalleled in its beauty. The Opening Ceremony film is a portrait of Earth in all its glory. But the film also documents the truth about our home today. A planet enraged. Disasters that have become more frequent and more ferocious. Fires. Floods. Storms. Droughts.

 

MISSION 3: FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

For One Night Only is where creativity meets generosity.

The biggest names in music, entertainment and sport donate their time to create unforgettable, unmissable experiences that money can’t buy.

The fans donate £10 to a vital cause and enter a charity prize draw for a chance to be one of the lucky ones who get to be there.

FONO1

Ed Sheeran will perform at London’s Union Chapel for an audience of just hundreds. This event will support Shout - the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 mental health text support service. Enter the charity prize draw on foronenightonly.org

 

WORK WE ARE PROUD OF

 

Heads Together – #OKTOSAY

#OKTOSAY is a series of short films produced as part of the Heads Together campaign to help change the conversation around our mental health. The films feature people from all walks of life talking, often with the person that they first opened up to, about the life-changing conversation that helped them cope with their mental health problems.

 

The Earthshot Prize

An ambitious set of challenges to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet, the Prize will reward those making outstanding contributions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges.