Last night, the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange was a hub of positivity, joy and hope with the start of Brighton and Hove’s Oska Bright Film Festival, which has a packed programme of accessible and fascinating events, all aimed at shining a spotlight on a community we don’t often see.
The festival started with the UK premiere of a feature film titled ‘Being Ola’. Ola is a young man who lives in a small community south of Oslo, Norway, comprising people with and without learning disabilities. Filmed over eight years, the film follows his search for independence and features close, intimate interviews with him as he deals with loss after his best friend moves away. Ola himself was portrayed with dignity and compassion throughout, and the film allowed him his wit and wisdom to shine through. The scenes of his piano recital and his adventures in Copenhagen when he reunites with his friend were deeply touching, and we could feel the whole audience rooting for him to move forward in life. This is a film to be sought out and cherished, even if it is something you may not normally view – a rare opportunity to watch something that slowly moves through a story that needs to be heard.
The launch event also included a stunning performance by Chapman Shun, a 15-year-old blind pianist from Hong Kong who has overcome his autism to become a conservatory student. He delivered a passionate performance of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue, alongside a piece he composed himself, once again highlighting the talents of this community’s members. There were also speeches welcoming the films and filmmakers to our city, and an amazing question-and-answer session where Ola and director Ragnhild Nøst Bergem discussed their piece with humility and passion.
The festival continues this week, featuring films made by or featuring people with learning disabilities. There is a great range of work on offer, including poetry, horror, drama and also a queer freedom strand that has been growing in popularity. With over 100 films on offer, there really is something for everyone.
The Oska Bright Festival is just the type of event that Brighton and Hove excels at, and it was an amazing insight into the work that will be on offer. With tickets available from just £6.00 and accessibility considered at every level, it is also something everyone can take part in.
Events this week include:
Sunday, March 29th:
Nature – Sealanes, Brighton 1 pm
Poetry – Sealanes, Brighton 3 pm
Family Values – Brighton Dome Studio 4 pm
Documentary – Brighton Dome Studio 7 pm
Monday, March 30th:
Emerging Talent – Brighton Dome Studio 11 am
Animation – Brighton Dome Studio 1.30 pm
Experimental – Brighton Dome Studio 5.30 pm
Horror – The Rosehill, Brighton 8.00 pm
Tu,esday March 31st:
Industry Networking Day – Brighton Dome Studio 2.00 pm
Drama – Brighton Dome 7.00 pm
Wednesday, April 1st:
Awards Ceremony – Brighton Dome Corn 6.30 pm
Thursday April 2nd:
Best of the Fest – Dukes at Komedia 1.00 pm
Portrait of the Artist – Brighton Dome Studio 2.00 pm
Wild Women – Brighton Dome Studio 6.00 pm
Queer Freedom – Brighton Dome Studio 8.00 pm
All tickets are available from the Oska Bright website.
Access information is available here.
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