The OSKA Bright film festival was the first film festival anywhere in the country and in Europe run by and for people with learning disabilities. I was proud and privileged to be invited to this unique occasion. The Oska Bright is run by Carousel and Junk TV together with Mencap.

The day was held at the Old Market at Upper Market Street, Hove on November 29th from 10am until 11pm with small breaks inbetween. There were four screenings in total. The screenings were attended by anybody who wanted to view the events. Bus, coach and car loads arrived, around 900 people came through the doors throughout the day in all. During the screenings each film was being interpreted using sign language for those that required it. The building is also fitted with the Loop system.

There were over 200 films sent in so it was long and hard work viewing them all and getting it down to the final 37 films. The presentation was then held the same evening. Now for who won!

Best Film (Up to 1 minute long): Matthew Eggert and Dave Stovell (Epping, Essex) with Tree Whiz and the Apple Attack.
Best Film (Up to 5 minutes long): Young Creations and the Workshop Gang (Silverstone, Northants) with It’s Summer Holidays Again.
Best Film (Up to 10 minutes long): Skills for People (Jesmond, Newcastle) with Silent Movie.
Best Camera Work: Massive Message Productions (Birmingham) with Down the Plug Hole.
Best Acting: the Brighton Mob.

The day concluded with the 5 winning films being awarded a specially commissioned 3 foot metal statue designed and made by an artist with learning disabilities and one of the festival’s organisers, Andy Kee. Andy works as a metal artist and is from London. Alan McCarthy the new Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove Council gave out one of the awards in the evening.

The events really gave the people with learning disabilities a chance to show what they can do and what is important to them. The festival is backed and supported by politicians and artists. Comedian Griff Rhys Jones said "We must see the ability, not the disability."

Well done to everybody involved in organising such a great event and for all their hard work, because without them it would not have happened. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the event will not be lost but go from strength to strength and be a regular yearly date to keep in our diaries.

Written by Margaret MacDonald.