Between November 2025 and May 2026, Born By A River undertook a practice-led research project that used the production of a short film to develop a programme designed to address systemic industry failings in relation to crew recruitment, wellbeing and accessibility.

The film Wide Tooth Comb (dir. Eileen Gbagbo, 2026) was selected through the Open Frame: Camden Short Film Fund, an open call process seeking advanced-stage scripts and treatments from early career filmmakers at the intersection of Black British identity, disability, neurodivergence, and/or underrepresented genders or sexualities within the sector.

For the chosen project, the selected filmmaker was paired with an independent producer who undertook wider crew recruitment. 28 crew members were employed, in addition to two members of existing BBAR staff, and two cast members. [Appendix I]

Born By A River designed a programme geared at supporting the selected filmmaker and the wider crew.