The Oska Bright strand!

Before the Norwich Film Festival fully kicks off it’s time to warm up with some fantastic shorts before the stress begins. Let’s start my short short film reviews.

Firstly, reading about Oska Bright Film Festival, they aim to showcase disabled people. This is due to a figure showing that only 5% of disabled people are represented in the UK television industry. As stated they aim to put “people with learning disabilities, autism or Aspergers where they should be, on the big screen” and if these are the short films that are produced…then we more than ever need more representation. Their official website: https://oskabright.org

Four solos in the wilds: a safe place to rest (2016) by Graham Busby

Reading about the concept behind this short (from a collection of shorts) it’s centered around the performer's “unique experience and relationship to the wild.” You can read more about this incredible project here as there is a lot: https://solointhewild.com

This 5 minute short, I found being very touching with beautiful dancing and music that played stereophonically. It truly highlights being one with nature as the film explores enjoying the forest to resting and letting it consume you. Graham Busby truly stole the show as his performance is such a delight to see. It is simplistic but beautifully crafted with love that oozes out to the viewer. Just people enjoying the natural world around them…what’s not to love.

Would love to see the full collection of shorts to fully see what this project was about but this short nails what it set out to do.

Jessica (2016) by Kirsty Griffin & Viv Kernick

This charming documentary follows the fashionista which is Jessica as she creates her own dress and grows the courage to show it off at a fashion event. Everything about it from the music, the cinematography to how incredible Jessica is, truly creates a touching piece of media that almost made me shed a happy tear. Kirsty Giffin and Viv Kernick create a documentary that perfectly encapsulates this moment without the use of over-editing or music as they strip everything back with Jessica and her story being at the forefront. The directors create films as a “succinct way to tell a small aspect of a person’s life” and in this short piece the audience falls in love with Jessica's personality and we do have an understanding of her life and her passions.

A heavily inspiring documentary which we salute you Jessica, Kirsty Giffin, and Viv Kernick on creating a truly beautiful documentary.

Look For Me (2018) By Miriam Fox

The first thing that stood out to me watching this was the unique simplistic animation that looked like it just bounced off a notebook and came to life. From this classic feel to the painted world when going into colour. The story is touching and follows a child discovering “a kindered spirit” through their love of drawing which was inspired by the director's own diagnosis with autism. Miriam Fox is an award winner animator (truly shows) and novel illustrator which you can check her out: https://www.mim-fox.com/

My view is that I was not crazy for this short (maybe the creepy voices) but it still brilliantly gets the message across and tells a story that is incredibly important to share. It’s very well put together, moving, and has a bold message but it needed that cherry on top to truly make an impact. Still a great short film that everyone should watch.

Moviegoer (2018) by Stuart Quinn

The last scene may have lost me on this one but the initial premise rotates around the effects of noise pollution and how art (ie cinema) can be an escape from busy city life. This is part of a collection of short films from “emerging Neurodiverse filmmakers and creatives from the Bristol area” which can be found here http://www.biggerhousefilm.co.uk/differentvoices/,

Going back to the short this over 1min 30ish short gets the message across and as a fellow cinema-goer it does ring true that they are a way to escape and highlights why this is important. It's an important perspective to share as Kristian Baxter truly portrays the two contrasting worlds he is faced with. We might not notice how noisy our life may be but to some watching the first moments (with the sound and cinematography) shows how intense it can be for some people and how crucial escapism really is. This short excels in conveying this message.

Considering the length: everyone should watch this and hopefully take something from it.

The Mask (2018) by Sharif Persaud

Sharif Persaud is a pure talent as he showcases his experience with autism as he writes, directs, and ‘acts’ in this short with a special appearance by Al Murray.

The film follows Sharif as he walks along the coast wearing his favorite mask. Throughout the short, he is telling the audience more about him and his life with autism. The most impactful moment was Sharif discussing the time his house was on fire. Though throughout you truly start to know more about Sharif. He tells not directly overwhelm you with a message but instead, he is just himself talking to the audience. It highlighted to me that everyone should be who they want to be, we are all different so why not just embrace being ourselves?

You can read more about the incredible Sharif Persaud here: https://www.thespectrumartaward.com/node/67

Just Me (2014) by Mattew Kennedy

There is very much a homemade feel to Just Me that I enjoyed but it left me baffled at the reasoning behind it. From the blurry camera that looks like it was filmed on an old school phone to the simplistic one-take shot of Mathew standing beside a wall (though it does add a personal quality to the film.) The voice-over throughout tells the personal story of Mathew Kennedy though what I was watching left me confused (maybe someone can help me get a better understanding?) As sadly, this one never quite worked for me but I get the importance of the message and how it can inspire other people that feel ‘different’ to just be themselves.

Mattie Kennedy is an artist, filmmaker and writer who has created multiple short films with this one being one of them. His aim is to get his voice heard and here he succeeded in his message in hoping everyone can just be accepting. You can read more about Mathew Kennedy here: https://disabilityarts.online/blog/oska-bright/were-here-were-visible-by-matthew-kennedy/

Celeste (2016) by Kirsty Griffin & Viv Kernick

Kirsty Griffin and Viv Kernick did it again on another documentary short as within the first 30 seconds I fell in love with Celeste. The audience follows her from her journey to being a fan of soap operas to becoming an extra. This one is sure to make you chuckle but also in a way made me feel like I should just enjoy all experiences no matter how small (getting too deep into this one.) Everything I loved about the other is still in this one which again creates a charming filled documentary.

I think what stand-outs with this and also Jessicas is there are no messages or proving a point, it is just two amazing women being themselves. Now to watch more of these (wherever they are or if there are more.)

Overall this collection of shorts is more of a highlight reel of great shorts from people that should and need to be represented more. Here is hoping there are more recent ones being produced.

The best/least favourite of the strand:

Best: Jessica by Miriam Fox

Least: Just Me by Mattew Kennedy