Monday, March 2, 2009

Film by developmentally disabled adults wins award at Canadian film festival

From BBC News in the UK. You can watch the film, "Germ Academy," here. As someone who is a bit germ-phobic, my one sentence review is, it's great! Wash your hands!

A film made in Somerset by adults with learning disabilities has won the Best Educational Film Award at a film festival in Canada.

The group of 20 people, who are all trainees with Somerset Work Preparation Service, put the film together after learning about food hygiene.

They all shared the acting, filming, sound recording as well as organising and setting up props. A county council disability service spokesman said it was a great film.

He said: "The film takes a very entertaining look at the effects that a lack of food hygiene has on our health,"

"Viewers tend to find it very engaging and are able to absorb the information about food safety."

After winning the Best Special Effects category at the Oska Bright Awards, Germ Academy was shown at venues throughout the UK.

It was also screened as part of the Prague film festival in October 2008.

Recently, it won the award for Best Educational Film at the Canada Film Festival.