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FILM FESTIVAL
THE SKY ’ S THE LIMIT FOR RECOVERY STREET
Submissions are now open for this year ’ s Recovery Street Film Festival , which is fast approaching its tenth anniversary
‘ films are going to make a big difference , because if people can get support without shame it will keep them alive and it will make such a difference for generations to come ,’ says the winner of last year ’ s Recovery Street Film Festival , Ceri Walker . Now in its ninth year , the festival is designed to challenge stigma , celebrate recovery and increase access to support . ‘ What I ’ m doing now is for my children and their children ,’ says Ceri , who is a spokesperson for the National Association for Children of Alcoholics ( NACOA ). Her stopmotion animation , Understanding the Child in Me , focused on the impact her mother ’ s drinking had on her when she was growing up . ‘ I ’ m a mum without a mum and it ’ s 20 years next year since I lost her ,’ she says . ‘ I know that I ’ m in this for the long haul – I know my recovery is lifelong , and I ’ m OK with that .’
This year ’ s theme is ‘ The sky is the limit ’, which is about seeing recovery as a gift of opportunity – the opportunity to ‘ heal , grow , travel ’ and ‘ find freedom , meaning , love and kindness ,’ say the festival organisers . ‘ Recovery journeys can take us to places we never thought possible .’
Entries should be between one and three minutes long , and the organisers are keen to stress that ‘ the sky is also the limit when it comes to the type of film you want to create – whether you want to showcase a short drama with actors , a stop motion animation , a documentarystyle piece , a personal story , a monologue , a song , a poem , or anything else you can dream up .’
John Paul Chapman , whose My Head Feels Like a Washing Machine was in last year ’ s top three , describes how the process has given him back his confidence . ‘ In the past , it was always done with a drink or drug inside me ,’ he says . ‘ In the space of the year since we ’ ve done it , things have worked out incredibly . It ’ s indescribable really . I can ’ t believe how much things are pushing forwards . We started a creative hub on the back of it .’
Paul stresses that the films are judged solely on their quality , creativity and how they relate to the theme , so there ’ s no need for expensive equipment – he filmed his entry on his phone , then edited it on an ‘ old , knackered laptop ’. There are plenty of tips on everything from storyboarding to shooting and post-production at https :// rsff . co . uk / how-to-makea-short-film .
After the shortlist has been announced , screenings will take place across the country during recovery month , with the top ten entries also available to view on the festival ’ s YouTube channel . The overall winner will receive a £ 300 Amazon voucher , with the second and third-place entries receiving £ 150 and £ 50 vouchers respectively – they ’ ll also have their expenses paid to attend the award ceremony in September .
Films entered into the competition over the last nine years have now been viewed by well over a million people . ‘ By giving people the opportunity to experience through film a diverse range of real-life stories from people affected by recovery , it may help reduce the stigma ,’ say the organising partners , who include representatives from Adfam , Humankind , Phoenix Futures , Steps 2 Recovery , Project 6 and Turning Point . ‘ We want to demonstrate through the medium of film the diverse issues that are faced by people during their recovery processes and how those around them can be affected . The aim is to empower people affected by substance use disorder by giving them a voice .’
Submissions are open until 1 August , with full details at https :// rsff . co . uk / competition-information . Anyone who ’ d like to support the festival but doesn ’ t want to make a film can also help out by hosting their own screening : https :// rsff . co . uk / host-a-screening .
‘ No matter how you choose to get involved with the Recovery Street Film Festival 2023 , we hope you ’ ll join in spreading the word about the incredible achievements of people with lived experience during Recovery Month and beyond ,’ the organisers state . ‘ Let ’ s challenge stigma and celebrate the power of recovery together .’ DDN https :// rsff . co . uk / Check out last year ’ s shortlisted films at : https :// www . youtube . com / playlist ? list = PLQeUqmCikGyZ6uC0 uGq95QI8OgRAqnx1T
Last year ’ s Recovery Street Film Festival winner was Ceri Walker . Her stop-motion animation , Understanding the Child in Me , focused on the impact her mother ’ s drinking had on her when she was growing up .
18 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • JUNE 2023 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM