From a troubled childhood to a film festival triumph, a new documentary is giving voice to the transformative role of educators.
A powerful short film titled Re-Story Your Life, which recounts the life story of renowned speaker Jaz Ampaw-Farr, has earned the prestigious Programmer’s Choice Award at this year’s Diversity in Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by Susanna Wright and produced by Nosco Films, the nine-minute documentary is already resonating strongly within education and leadership communities. It brings into focus the subtle but life-altering influence of teachers who choose empathy over judgement.
Told with unfiltered emotion and vivid storytelling, the film retraces the support of five key teachers who helped Jaz transition from abuse in the UK care system to global stages. In recognising the film, the Cannes festival has spotlighted the role of educators as quiet changemakers in society.
Relevance in Today’s Climate
As schools face an unprecedented wave of stress and staff departures, Re-Story Your Life feels both urgent and poignant. It reminds audiences that true impact lies not in grand gestures, but in everyday moments of kindness and belief.
Ampaw-Farr, whose talks have inspired audiences from TEDx to the ExCeL Arena, has become a voice of lived resilience. Her work speaks directly to the national conversation around trauma-informed practice and values-driven leadership.
“I didn’t set out to be inspirational — I just wanted to assert educators as everyday heroes,” said Jaz Ampaw-Farr. “This film is both harrowing and hopeful. It’s a love letter to the people who saw past my behaviour and into my potential. The fact that their impact has now been recognised on the world stage? That’s everything.”
About the Film
Produced by Nosco Films and directed by the award-winning Susanna Wright, Re-Story Your Life fuses Jaz’s voiceover with emotive visuals and archive material. It paints a deeply personal journey from chaos to clarity while raising a central question: What if one teacher changed everything?
The film is currently being shown at education and leadership events throughout the UK. Private screenings are also available for schools, trusts, and companies with a focus on inclusion, trauma awareness, and staff wellbeing.
What’s on the Horizon
The film’s success at Cannes coincides with the release of Jaz’s new book, Because of You, This Is Me. Her UK book tour begins this month, with major appearances scheduled at the Inspiring Leadership Conference (12 June) and the Festival of Education (4 July), where the film will also be shown.
In a month of accolades, Jaz will also receive honorary doctorates from Hull University (15 July) and Bishop Grosseteste University (30 July) for her outstanding contribution to education and social impact. In August, she will debut her first stand-up comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Glitter Challenge, a tribute to late writer Jo Fletcher Cross.
