Andrew Kay: Hollywood by the sea
I find it most entertaining that one event re-establishes Brighton and Hove as Britain’s Hollywood. Okay, the city is permanently over-run with film crews, making ads, films and TV series and although it’s fun to see the city on the big screen, few of them are truly satisfying, especially those who refuse to get the geography of our city right.
No, for me it’s the bi-annual Oska Bright Film Festival that truly establishes us as a centre of filmic excellence.
For curators Becky Bruzas and Jason Eade, who select films to include in the Oska Bright Film Festival, it brings joy and pain in equal measure. Oska Bright is the world’s first and only festival of short films made by people with learning disabilities that is produced, managed and presented by a learning disabled team.
2013 is the sixth edition of this biennial festival and it looks set to be the biggest and most extraordinary yet with more entries than ever before from more countries. In total, 57 films from the UK, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Germany and Canada are being shown.
The decision making process for the team can be a fraught process. Becky says: “We have long and often rather lively discussions about the content, production values and audience appeal of the submitted films. The festival runs for three days with different categories of films, screened in timed sessions. This year we had several films with adult content, so we have put these into an evening slot.”
“It is important that people can choose the sort of films they want to see” adds Jason. “We also have Films That Make Us Laugh, Films About People and Spooky Films.”
“The Oska Bright Film Festival gives people with learning disabilities a chance to show what is important in their lives – their hopes and their fears”
Oska Bright is not just about getting the work of these often overlooked artists into the public eye. It promotes a completely inclusive approach to the arts. There are opportunities for networking, for seeing the latest digital art and for participation. The “Oskas” are made by Andy Kee, who is a tireless advocate for artists and makers with learning disabilities. “The festival gives people with learning disabilities a chance to show what is important in their lives – their hopes and their fears.”
The Festival culminates in an awards ceremony with winners announced on the spot by guests from the film industry, parliament and the arts. It’s a great event which I know from first hand experience when I was privileged enough to be asked to present one of the awards. That was certainly a night to remember, the pure joy and creativity gathered in one room, a room full of people who, rather than talking about doing something, get off their backsides and do it. Three cheers for that!
Oska Bright celebrates the artistic achievements of people with learning disabilities and proudly demonstrates the independence and creativity of this community. Now, perhaps more than ever, this festival is of value to society – bringing people in, from ‘out there’.
The whole things is also open to the public and I can heartily recommend getting down to the Corn Exchange to enjoy the rich and diverse programme of short films that will have you both laughing and crying but above all amazed it the wealth of international and local talent.
Oska Bright Film Festival, Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton
Sunday 17 November–Tuesday 19 November
Tickets £12 festival pass or £3 per screening session. See www.oskabright.co.uk for full schedule, venue information and tickets.
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