Page 27 - Community Living Magazine 35-1

arts: film and TV

S.A.M. was shown at film festivals last
year but the pandemic paused
distribution. It is not available online now,
but is certainly one to look out for.
Webster is also to star in a new science
fiction film BEBE AI, which has an intriguing
storyline: a young couple who have Down
syndrome battle to overcome prejudice to
save and adopt a baby android. The film is
crowdfunding so it can be completed.
Festival grows and grows
Oska Bright is the world’s leading festival
The show is going on for films made by or featuring people with
learning disabilities. Founded in 2004, it
has grown hugely and has become a
renowned platform for creative,
Plenty has been happening on in the arts for people with independent, learning disability-led film
learning disabilities. Tracey Harding watches some touching making. At the most recent festival in 2019,
short films and looks forward to a festival 99 films from 15 countries were shown.
The next festival in 2022 will be the first
time it qualifies for the British Independent
Film Awards (BIFA). This features creative
Disabled Not Defeated. The Rock Band Selway took his life, and the film grew into independent film making and for Oska
with Learning Disabilities – Delta 7 a bigger story around the processes of Bright to be included is testament to the
https://tinyurl.com/kdwzycwd love, grief and the strength found in music quality of the films contributed by learning-
and the support of friends. disabled filmmakers in the UK and beyond.
S.A.M. Planned festival screenings were For 2021 the festival has put together
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11425868/ thwarted by the pandemic but the film online content, Oska Bites, featuring some
has been seen online by 40,000 people of the shorts from 2019. The last edition
Oska Bright Film Festival across the world. The documentary is life featured four films from around the world
Oska Bites affirming, uplifting and a testament to the and heard from learning disabled people
https://oskabright.org/oskabites power of friendship. A must watch. around the UK about their love of film.
A critically acclaimed short film from The move online also includes chats and
here is no doubt that organisations last year is S.A.M.. This 16-minute film Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
and performers are facing significant from Lloyd Eyre-Morgan and Neil Ely tells It included The Magic of Cinema by
Tthreats to their careers and the story of a budding love affair between Linda Curtin, which features artists with
livelihoods after the pandemic. two teenage boys, both called Sam, one learning disabilities who contributed art
Employment is precarious and insecure, of whom has Down syndrome. forms including painting, sculpture and
according to UK Disability Arts Alliance’s Set in a Manchester playground, the performance. The 6-minute film is
report We Shall Not Be Removed, the first film is rare in its on-screen representation atmospheric and beautiful to watch. Also
survey of its kind to look at the disability of someone with a learning disability who featured was Poti Pictures, from Tuscany,
arts sector after the pandemic. It is also navigating his sexuality. Italy, which uses stylised production
recommends additional targeted financial One of the Sams is played by George techniques to create short films, video
support to avoid further inequality for an Webster, a Mencap ambassador. He says: clips and documentaries inspired by social
already-disadvantaged group. “The film is important to me because it’s issues. The company’s Uonted! tells the
Nonetheless, some great work has been about being yourself, accepting yourself, story of Tiziano who desperately wants to
produced. Here are some you may have and accepting others for who they are.” see the Old West at an amusement park.
missed and some to look out for. Eyre-Morgan and Ely considered how to Oska Bright’s continuing success
work inclusively both behind and in front demonstrates the depth and quality of films
Short films explore punk, grief and desire of the camera. They hope S.A.M. will be put together by a dedicated and talented
Disabled Not Defeated, a 20-minute film developed into a full-length feature film. team of programmers. There will be more
made in 2018 by Rosie Baldwin, received coverage of the festival in the next issue.
a BAFTA nomination this year.
The documentary began as a showcase Landing a Spielberg role
for a seven-piece post-punk band learning Finally, Tommy Jessop, best known for his
disabilities who had formed after role in Line of Duty, has landed a part in a
completing a music course run by Culture Stephen Spielberg series. Masters of the
Shift, an organisation supporting creativity Air is a Second World War drama produced
with different groups across Sussex. by Spielberg and Tom Hanks for Apple TV+.
Baldwin initially intended to highlight issues of Community Living and there is no
Jessop featured in the previous two
the energy, musical talents and
Oska Bright personalities of the band but, two months Oska Bright films: top: Tiziano in Uonted!; doubt he is be a trailblazer and role model
into filming, their mentor and friend Tom
above: artist in The Magic of Cinema
for people with learning disabilities. n
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 1 | Autumn 2021 27