For the 7th consecutive year NOVA Employment is running the Focus on Ability Short Film Festival. The competition is aimed at raising awareness of the abilities of people with a disability.
This year is set to be the biggest yet with all films entered to really showcase the talents people with disabilities possess. With over $100,000 worth of cash and prizes to be won this is a highly contested competition.
The theme for the competition asks film makers to ‘Focus on the Ability’ of people with a disability.
In 2009, CEO of NOVA Employment Martin Wren started with three ingredients:
* An inviolate belief in the ability of people with a disability
* A big idea
* A committed team of staff
In 2014 180 films were entered and the winners shared in over $90,000 in prizes.
One of the four judges, Award-winning Director Di Drew, commented, ‘The standard of films was exceptional. We watched many humbling stories of inspiration. I see things differently after seeing these films.’
Minister for Disability Services John Ajaka said the NSW Government is proud to support this wonderful initiative that highlights the creativity and ability of people with disability through films. “I would like to congratulate the winners of this year’ ‘Focus on Ability’ Short Films Competition and thank all the participants for promoting inclusion and raising awareness that disability is not a barrier. Though your films, you have all touched our hearts,” said Mr Ajaka.
Entrants will have the chance to feel like Scorsese and see their films premiered on the big screen as well as the chance to have their film shown on national television.
Films will be both judged by a professional judging panel and put through an online voting process, with separate prizes for each category.
NOVA Employment CEO Martin Wren discusses the importance of the Australian and New Zealand schools element of the festival.
“Today’s students are tomorrow leaders and decision makers , they have also proven more than capable of helping change community attitudes toward the inclusion of people with disability.
“School’s can promote the ability of people with disability, develop students understanding of the issues surrounding disability in Australia (there are more than 800,000 Australians receiving the Disability Support Pension and Australia ranks last1 against other OECD economies when it comes to relative poverty), develop students film making capacity, promote their school, win the school some really significant prizes and have the chance for the film to be shown on national television,” said Mr Wren.
The competition culminates in an awards night held in Sydney on September 9, 2015 as well as a special school screening on September 8, 2015, full details to be announced at www.focusonability.com.au in coming months.
Entries for the festival close on July 10, 2015.
To keep up to date with all the happenings of the 2015 festival give their page a ‘like’
www.facebook.com/novafocusonability
http://www.smh.com.au/national/aust-lags-oecd-in-support-for-disabled-report-20111129-1v166.html
Source: link
