news
Sit Down,
Shutup
and Watch
Festival
T
he pioneering
Sit Down,
Shutup and
Watch Film and New
Media Festival will
be held over two
days this year, for
the first time in the
event’s history.
Led by a steering
committee of seven
passionate film-makers
and artists who all
identify with a learning
Sara Egarr, Sit Down, Shutup and
Watch Committee Member, pictured
in the foyer of the Blyth cinema
during a recent roadshow to regional
South Australia. Photo courtesy
Andrea Fraser.
disability, Sit Down,
Participants set off in the 2017 Wings for Life run.
Wings for Life
T
housands of fun runners will
gather in Melbourne and around
the country to take part in the
Wings for Life World Run on Sunday
May 6.
The Melbourne event will see participants
of all skill levels and abilities taking part in
Shutup and Watch is Australia’s first and only learning disability
led film festival.
The 2018 festival will be held on October 19 and 20 in
Angaston in South Australia’s Barossa Valley.
Sit Down, Shutup and Watch is an initiative of Tutti Arts in
South Australia.
Tutti Arts Chief Executive Officer Pat Rix said the festival
grew out of Tutti’s connection with artists with disability living
in regional areas of South Australia.
“Those connections remain very strong,” she said.
“But the Festival has international reach. It was inspired by
the official Australian event, with registrations the UK’s Oska Bright Film Festival and attracts entries from
now open. For those who are unable to take around the world as well as across Australia.”
part in Melbourne, there are organised runs
Festival Steering Committee Chair Lee Witczak said short
around the country as well as the opportunity films of all genres are accepted, including comedy, sci-fi,
to participate this year through an app. documentary, drama and music videos – where someone with a
Wings for Life World Run started five
year ago and has blossomed into a global
learning disability is at the centre of the creative process.
First held in 2014, the biannual festival also helps to
movement. As a charity event, it has raised foster and give a platform to emerging film-makers through
millions for the Wings for Life Foundation to workshops and roadshows.
fund research into a cure for spinal cord injury.
The Wings for Life World Run encourages
everyone of all abilities to join the race – from
absolute beginners to international athletes.
Film-makers interested in entering should visit
www.sitdownshutupandwatch.com for more information.
The deadline for entries is April 30.
www.sitdownshutupandwatch.com
www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com
linkonline.com.au
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