Ind-E-Focus

Any budding film makers with learning disabilities will be happy to know that the Oska Bright Film Festival is now open for submissions;

Deadline: 30 April 2009. Festival 17-19 November 2009.
Oska Bright is unique. It is the first and only festival managed and promoted by learning disabled artists as a showcase for their creativity and skill as film-makers.

Submitted films are selected by a panel and there are a variety of categories for which awards are offered, including development bursaries. There is a film-making workshop and networking opportunities over the three day event, culminating in a lively awards ceremony.

Through its touring and training projects, Oska Bright has a huge audience and its films are winning awards in international festivals. Oska Bright recently won the National Lottery Best Art Project Award by public vote.

The festival is looking for films that are under 10 minutes long. They can be in any genre, from live action or animation to documentary or dance-film. Films can be made by groups or individuals in the UK or abroad.

Andy Kee, a visual artist who makes the awards and is on the Oska Bright Committee, says: “The Festival is about learning disabled film. It’s about our culture and promotes our arts lives. It shows people how good we are and that we can make films as good as anyone else.”

The deadline for entries is 30 April 2009 and the Festival takes place over 3 days in November 2009, in Brighton.

The website www.oskabright.co.uk has full information on how to enter. Or call on 01273234734 for an information pack. (Source: Screen South - The Oska Bright Film Festival 2009)