Bus Stop Films
Building the confidence, english skills and life-ready skills of people with an intellectual disability and others from marginalised communities, through access to a ‘film school experience’.
Bus Stop Films is a volunteer operated, not-for-profit organisation using real 'film school experiences' to build the confidence, english language skills and life-ready skills of people with an intellectual disability and others from marginalised communities. With the development assistance of Robyn Ewing AM, BSF has created an accessible film studies curriculum based on four years' program experience.
2019 Pitch
Funds raised: $23,160
Bus Stop Films doesn’t believe in limitations for people living with a disability. Since inception they have made films that have been screened worldwide and have provided paid employment and further opportunities to filmmakers living with a disability. CEO Tracey Corbin-Matchett pitched for funding to take their Accessible Films Studies Program to Canberra in 2020, allowing Canberra-based students with disability to undertake filmmaking classes and create a short film using professional equipment and studios.
The Impact….
The full year program kicked off in February 2020 with 12 young adults living with intellectual disability enrolling to participate. Screen Canberra hosted the Program at the Canberra Technology Park and two local Canberra filmmakers, Dan Sanguineti and Lilian Paterson, were recruited to facilitate the program.
Students have been developing a film project to be produced with the funds, which is currently in pre-production and will be filmed in October. Many local filmmaking professionals have come on board to support the project.
“12 young adults living with intellectual disability have been supported by the program. Additionally, hosting a program in Canberra has allowed us to support our two local filmmakers Dan and Lilian with regular employment, critical at time when the screen industry has been significantly affected. Plus, the film produced with the funding will provide paid professional filmmaking work to around 10 local creatives who will be engaged to work on the film. Employing Canberra based people in the screen industry at time when the industry needs all the help it can! Inclusive filmmaking, local jobs and opportunities for people living with disability in Canberra, so much to be thankful for.” - Tracey Corbin-Matchett, CEO
2016 Pitch
Funds raised: $66,150
In March 2016, BSF presented at The Funding Network in Sydney and raised $66,150 to turn its existing film studies curriculum into an online resource and give more organisations and individuals access to inclusive film-making.
The impact...
Everyone has the right to let their creativity and talent shine. Through Bus Stop Films' partnership with Australian Film, Television and Radio School, BSF 'film clubbers' have the benefit of world-class facilities and the inspiring AFTRS environment, bringing immense pride and dignity to their learning experiences. Program participant Digby gives the BSF film school two thumbs up: 'I like this building,' he says, 'it's a beautiful building... the best ever for Bus Stop Films ...[and] a beautiful place to be with your friends'. For fellow film clubber Nathan, his film-making experiences give him 'a reason to get out of bed in the morning.'
Over the past 12 months, BSF has developed its curriculum with AFTRS while running a 15 week film-making program at AFTRS for 40 people with intellectual disabilities. The team also provided two 10 week documentary filmmaking courses in Arncliffe for another 14 individuals recovering from chronic and persistent mental health issues, culminating with Flickerfest where the group saw their own quality filmmaking right up there on the screen.
Testifying to BSF's career and personal skills development, three participants in the BSF program have since landed paid internships with significant film production brands - ABC, Giant Dwarf and The Footy Show. Every participant in the BSF film school program is a capable student accessing real opportunities in the film-making industry - and enabling us all to experience cinematic art that reflects real life and real people.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals:
