A record 113 entries have been whittled down to 38 for the Oska Bright
film festival - the only festival in Europe that showcases films made by and
for people with learning disabilities - which opens in Hove, East
Sussex, on Monday.
From the Guardian:
The films, the longest of which runs for seven
minutes, include Celebrity Shotgun, an EastEnders-style soap about
infidelity, and In Our Shoes, a documentary about the emotional impact
on a woman with learning disabilities of losing her job.
The
festival is in its third year and sponsors and funders include Baby Cow
(Steve Coogan and Henry Normal's TV company), Stomp, UK Film Festival,
Sky TV, Channel 4 and Screen South. Between screenings next Monday and
Tuesday at the Old Market, there will be masterclasses in making short
films.
Mark Richardson, artistic director of Carousel Arts,
another of the festival sponsors and organisers, says the winners of
five categories will receive specially commissioned illuminated
trophies designed and made by award-winning learning disabled artist
Andy Kee. There are also two special training bursaries, the winners of
which will get two days' film and TV training and mentoring from
festival co-sponsor Junk TV. After the festival, the films will tour
venues across the UK and Irish Republic.