Deaffest

The application deadline for the Ben Steiner Bursary is now Tuesday 24 January 2012.

The Ben Steiner Bursary is an exciting opportunity for an aspiring Deaf or hard of hearing film-maker. The winner will receive a budget of £5000 for a film project. It is targeted at people over 21 who already have some experience in media or film making and are hoping to further develop their skills.

Up to 12 applicants will be short listed. They will attend a film making workshop conducted in BSL by John Maidens, a Deaf film maker and BBC director. The workshop will cover a range of topics including script writing, film production, budget management, scheduling, legal issues, marketing and pitching. After the completion of the workshop applicants will have time to prepare and film a pitch for their entry for the bursary.

The winning pitch will be selected by a judge panel and announced on Saturday 26 May 2012 at Deaffest. The winner will then be able to use the Bursary to begin filming their project, with their finished production being screened at the 2013 Deaffest.

Examples of the films made by previous winners using the Ben Steiner Bursary can be viewed by following the below links:

Trailer for Dead Money, Bim Ajadi (2009 winner)

Trailer for Luke Starr, Stephen Collin (2010 winner)

Download the Ben Steiner Bursary application form and the eligibilty criteria here.

Last month we held an interview and Q&A on twitter with Stephen Collins, the 2010 winner of the Ben Steiner Bursary, and here it is in full! Follow Deaffest on twitter.

Deaffest: In 4 mins, we are going to hear from the man himself, Stephen Collins. Again, if you’re thinking of applying or anything to ask, tweet him!

Deaffest: For those who don’t know Stephen – here is is blog. Nice picture of him too. thefootprintsofstephen.tumblr.com

Deaffest: Great! Firstly, how are you getting on with your Movember?!

Stephen: Movember is going great. Have raised £220 so far for The Prostate Cancer Charity. It’s all groovy and itching.

Deaffest: Excellent, let’s get down to business. What was your experience of filmmaking before you applied for the Ben Steiner Bursary?

Stephen: I would say that I had very little experience before the Ben Steiner. I learnt how filming work and the process. Did lot of assisting work for others. But never with the budget and bigger responsibility that I had with The Ben Steiner. Continue reading →

Filmmaker William Mager has won a top award for his creative excellence and for building a more diverse Arts and media industry for disabled people.

The Ability Media International award (AMI) was presented on Sunday 20 November at a glittering ceremony in London Studios, attended by some of the UK Arts industry’s most influential and well respected players – including Downton Abbey actor Dame Maggie Smith, children’s TV pioneer Anna Home and filmmaker Mike Leigh. The AMI awards, created by Leonard Cheshire Disability in 2009, identify outstanding creative projects that encourage a more inclusive world people.

Heralded by the international panel of judges as an ‘exciting and emerging directing talent’ by the judges, Mager won the Future Focus Award 2011. The BBC Producer and Director, who is deaf, has written and directed several short films including STILETTO, DEAF MUGGER, HANDS SOLO and MY SONG, shown at major international festivals around the world, winning several awards. Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri and Film London Manager and Creative Board member, Jenny Cooper, presented the award to Mager.

William comments:

“I’m honoured to receive this award – it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the BBC, Film London, the UK Film Council, 104 Films and the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust in making these short films and dramas alongside some talented writers and actors. This award will give me the inspiration and motivation to continue making more films in future!”

Jane Jutsum, Leonard Cheshire Disability Innovative Projects Director and co-organiser of the AMI awards, comments:

“With his talent, energy, and diversity, William Mager is making waves in the film industry. Now extending his reach beyond short filmmaking to longer dramatic work, Mager is actively contributing to making British arts and broadcasting industries of excellence and greater diversity.”

The AMIs support the Ability Media Centre. Set up by Leonard Cheshire Disability, the centre gives disabled and disadvantaged young people the training and skills they need to meet the demands of the media industries. www.abilitymedia.org