Wonderful news. The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival is about to get underway for another year. Their creative director, Ryan Goodwin, joins us. Ron, a little bit, a little bit. Happy New Year. Thanks for your time.

Wonderful news. The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival is about to get underway for another year. Their creative director, Ryan Goodwin, joins us. Ron, a little bit, a little bit. Happy New Year. Thanks for your time.

Yeah. Thank you so much for having me back. It's always a pleasure to be on the show and and the support of, uh, of yourself and Vision Australia radio has been, uh, tremendous for us.

Yeah. Thank you so much for having me back. It's always a pleasure to be on the show and and the support of, uh, of yourself and Vision Australia radio has been, uh, tremendous for us.

Well, I don't know if it's my imagination. It seems like only yesterday that it was December 3rd and that, uh, wonderful stuff was on the SBS.

Well, I don't know if it's my imagination. It seems like only yesterday that it was December 3rd and that, uh, wonderful stuff was on the SBS.

Yeah, absolutely. Uh, but the great thing is, is. Yeah, for your listeners out there is, uh, SBS On Demand still hold all that content. So there's about four hours of, uh, audio described closed captions, content on the on demand platform. Just go to search for explainability.

Yeah, absolutely. Uh, but the great thing is, is. Yeah, for your listeners out there is, uh, SBS On Demand still hold all that content. So there's about four hours of, uh, audio described closed captions, content on the on demand platform. Just go to search for explainability.

Ron, you've been really good to us both to speak to us about the awards and, uh, you know, promoting them, etcetera. But you've also been tremendous because you've lined us up with some tremendous filmmakers who have had such a great story to tell either themselves or about the films that they've made. That that must be, I guess, part of the buzz of being involved with something like this.

Ron, you've been really good to us both to speak to us about the awards and, uh, you know, promoting them, etcetera. But you've also been tremendous because you've lined us up with some tremendous filmmakers who have had such a great story to tell either themselves or about the films that they've made. That that must be, I guess, part of the buzz of being involved with something like this.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. We get, I guess, somewhat guardianship over some amazing stories. And, you know, we want the world to to view them and to hear them and and to to learn more. So, yeah, it's an absolute pleasure to be able to pass on some of those stories and have more people, um, hear them.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. We get, I guess, somewhat guardianship over some amazing stories. And, you know, we want the world to to view them and to hear them and and to to learn more. So, yeah, it's an absolute pleasure to be able to pass on some of those stories and have more people, um, hear them.

Yeah. Apart from the fact that you get your film on SBS and maybe get invited to go to the red carpet event, etc. when the winners are announced, you've got some pretty good news regarding prizes for this year's, uh, awards.

Yeah. Apart from the fact that you get your film on SBS and maybe get invited to go to the red carpet event, etc. when the winners are announced, you've got some pretty good news regarding prizes for this year's, uh, awards.

Yeah. Back. Uh, over $100,000. Uh, we'll be giving away a brand new car. We've got some amazing industry experiences. We've just had, um, a Sundance Film Festival over in the United States has been happening over the last week. So we've had some winners from last year over there or being part of that Sundance experience. So, uh, they've very much had a good time over there and being able to share some of their film and, and talk to other people in the industry. So industry that's been invaluable for them.

Yeah. Back. Uh, over $100,000. Uh, we'll be giving away a brand new car. We've got some amazing industry experiences. We've just had, um, a Sundance Film Festival over in the United States has been happening over the last week. So we've had some winners from last year over there or being part of that Sundance experience. So, uh, they've very much had a good time over there and being able to share some of their film and, and talk to other people in the industry. So industry that's been invaluable for them.

That's kind of money. Can't buy experience, isn't it?

That's kind of money. Can't buy experience, isn't it?

Absolutely. And that's what we pitched. So if anybody's thinking about making a story, um, yeah, plenty of avenues for us to share it, but also for you to collect some amazing prizes.

Absolutely. And that's what we pitched. So if anybody's thinking about making a story, um, yeah, plenty of avenues for us to share it, but also for you to collect some amazing prizes.

I mean, it's the sort of thing with that opportunity that, you know, if you want to kind of make a career out of this or maybe try and, you know, get some tips and tricks as to how you can do stuff better. I mean, you know, you couldn't go to a better place.

I mean, it's the sort of thing with that opportunity that, you know, if you want to kind of make a career out of this or maybe try and, you know, get some tips and tricks as to how you can do stuff better. I mean, you know, you couldn't go to a better place.

I wouldn't think so, Peter. And, uh, yeah, completely agree with your sentiment.

I wouldn't think so, Peter. And, uh, yeah, completely agree with your sentiment.

Yeah. Well, as you said, a car also, uh, up for grabs. I mean, uh, that's pretty cool.

Yeah. Well, as you said, a car also, uh, up for grabs. I mean, uh, that's pretty cool.

Yeah, absolutely. And there'll be some cash up for grabs as well, for schools and for open entrance and, uh, yeah, any organisations that want to get involved as well. But we're continually looking at, uh, growing the festival. So if there is any sponsors, uh, potential sponsors out there that wants to be part of such a massive platform as the festival and wants to get your brand, uh, associated, please. Uh, yeah. Reach out to.

Yeah, absolutely. And there'll be some cash up for grabs as well, for schools and for open entrance and, uh, yeah, any organisations that want to get involved as well. But we're continually looking at, uh, growing the festival. So if there is any sponsors, uh, potential sponsors out there that wants to be part of such a massive platform as the festival and wants to get your brand, uh, associated, please. Uh, yeah. Reach out to.

Her. Alright, we'll give you contact details before we wrap up. What about that part of it? I mean, everyone knows how tough it is. Well, how tough it is for business, how tough it is for people to try to get business on board as sponsorship. You'll probably know, different, but I guess you've got a bit of history behind you now, and you can kind of point to the stuff that you've done. These are the sort of things that we do that can be a great thing for you to kind of, you know, ride on our coattails, if I can put it that, like that.

Her. Alright, we'll give you contact details before we wrap up. What about that part of it? I mean, everyone knows how tough it is. Well, how tough it is for business, how tough it is for people to try to get business on board as sponsorship. You'll probably know, different, but I guess you've got a bit of history behind you now, and you can kind of point to the stuff that you've done. These are the sort of things that we do that can be a great thing for you to kind of, you know, ride on our coattails, if I can put it that, like that.

Yeah. That's fair. We, uh, our platform is continuing to grow every year. So, uh, you know, the people and the the size of the groups that are associated with the festival, uh, whether it be people submitting films, people viewing films, people coming to our screening events, people watching us, uh, on TV. Uh, so there are some big brands that want to be associated, but, uh, we want to continue to grow that. So that way we can keep getting the festival to more people and, uh, more enticing prizes. And yeah, more of those money can't buy experiences.

Yeah. That's fair. We, uh, our platform is continuing to grow every year. So, uh, you know, the people and the the size of the groups that are associated with the festival, uh, whether it be people submitting films, people viewing films, people coming to our screening events, people watching us, uh, on TV. Uh, so there are some big brands that want to be associated, but, uh, we want to continue to grow that. So that way we can keep getting the festival to more people and, uh, more enticing prizes. And yeah, more of those money can't buy experiences.

There's lots of good things about what you do. I think one of the really positive and powerful things is the kids that get involved. So either they have a disability or doing films about disability. It kind of, you know, if you like teaching them young about the abilities and the things that are great about access and the things that are important about inclusion from a very, very young age. And, you know, obviously, these are the adults of the future, if I can put it that way.

There's lots of good things about what you do. I think one of the really positive and powerful things is the kids that get involved. So either they have a disability or doing films about disability. It kind of, you know, if you like teaching them young about the abilities and the things that are great about access and the things that are important about inclusion from a very, very young age. And, you know, obviously, these are the adults of the future, if I can put it that way.

Yeah, absolutely. I'm really excited about the youth of today. I think we've, uh, I think the youth of today are more inclusive thinking than ever. And I think that, uh, it bodes well for our future. So, yeah, it's exciting for to have school students being part of the participation in this and the schools getting right behind it. And yeah, with that kind of inclusive thinking to last for the rest of their lives, it'd be amazing.

Yeah, absolutely. I'm really excited about the youth of today. I think we've, uh, I think the youth of today are more inclusive thinking than ever. And I think that, uh, it bodes well for our future. So, yeah, it's exciting for to have school students being part of the participation in this and the schools getting right behind it. And yeah, with that kind of inclusive thinking to last for the rest of their lives, it'd be amazing.

And again, it can be a career path. It might be as a film maker, but kind of doesn't matter what kind of role you go into, if you're more inclusive with your business acumen, you know, if you're capturing other 25% of the market that might be excluded because of disability, then you know, you've got a bit of a head start on your on your On your opposition.

And again, it can be a career path. It might be as a film maker, but kind of doesn't matter what kind of role you go into, if you're more inclusive with your business acumen, you know, if you're capturing other 25% of the market that might be excluded because of disability, then you know, you've got a bit of a head start on your on your On your opposition.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. And, uh, yeah, creating content has never been easier. And, uh, there's never been such a thirst for content either. So people are creating every day and getting better at it. And, um, yeah, I think the amount of jobs out there at the moment for that kind of industry, you know, getting a start on the festival is a good place for us to, um, to assist.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. And, uh, yeah, creating content has never been easier. And, uh, there's never been such a thirst for content either. So people are creating every day and getting better at it. And, um, yeah, I think the amount of jobs out there at the moment for that kind of industry, you know, getting a start on the festival is a good place for us to, um, to assist.

And it's not just limited to people in Australia.

And it's not just limited to people in Australia.

Know all around the world. Yeah. So we had 20 countries submit films last year. Uh, I'd be surprised if they'd ever dropped off. So we've got really strong support, uh, across the African countries, some of the, some of the Asian countries and Europe and America is also always big for us. And then obviously our neighbors over in New Zealand, um, really bad above their average.

Know all around the world. Yeah. So we had 20 countries submit films last year. Uh, I'd be surprised if they'd ever dropped off. So we've got really strong support, uh, across the African countries, some of the, some of the Asian countries and Europe and America is also always big for us. And then obviously our neighbors over in New Zealand, um, really bad above their average.

A bit of, uh, cross Tasman rivalry.

A bit of, uh, cross Tasman rivalry.

Uh, yeah. Well, uh, all all in the one spirit here together and, but.

Uh, yeah. Well, uh, all all in the one spirit here together and, but.

Of course we're all going in the one Direction. Fantastic. So, um, uh, people can kind of, uh, you know, be, uh, thinking very hard about what they might want to put forward as far as this year's offering goes.

Of course we're all going in the one Direction. Fantastic. So, um, uh, people can kind of, uh, you know, be, uh, thinking very hard about what they might want to put forward as far as this year's offering goes.

Yeah, absolutely. If anyone wants any ideas or inspiration, head to our website. The films are all up there from the previous years, so I think we've got over 4000 films up there now. So I prepare to spend a few hours because it can be a little addictive.

Yeah, absolutely. If anyone wants any ideas or inspiration, head to our website. The films are all up there from the previous years, so I think we've got over 4000 films up there now. So I prepare to spend a few hours because it can be a little addictive.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

So that sort of thing can be like that. I'll just watch one more before I do what I really have to do. But this is, this is too good to pass up. Just before you go, Ron, what about the SBS involvement? Is that kind of locked in long term or is that year by year? How does that work?

So that sort of thing can be like that. I'll just watch one more before I do what I really have to do. But this is, this is too good to pass up. Just before you go, Ron, what about the SBS involvement? Is that kind of locked in long term or is that year by year? How does that work?

Yeah. So we had some great news just after all that content aired on SBS on December 3rd. Obviously, we remain on the on demand platform, but SBS got in touch with us the week later and said they were actually having people call in to SBS to commend them on having such great content, so they were very surprised. Normally if they get phone calls for complaints, that's true. So yeah, they uh they were very happy with that and they've locked us in again for this year. So yeah, we can definitely say that being part of the festival, you're a big chance of um, yeah. Having your content on national TV at the end of the year.

Yeah. So we had some great news just after all that content aired on SBS on December 3rd. Obviously, we remain on the on demand platform, but SBS got in touch with us the week later and said they were actually having people call in to SBS to commend them on having such great content, so they were very surprised. Normally if they get phone calls for complaints, that's true. So yeah, they uh they were very happy with that and they've locked us in again for this year. So yeah, we can definitely say that being part of the festival, you're a big chance of um, yeah. Having your content on national TV at the end of the year.

Well, they do a really good job with audio description. They've really taken on board that as far as part of their sort of regular programming goes. So that's really good to hear that. If people do want to find out more, where do we go to?

Well, they do a really good job with audio description. They've really taken on board that as far as part of their sort of regular programming goes. So that's really good to hear that. If people do want to find out more, where do we go to?

Yeah. Focused on e-commerce. Uh, all the details for this year's festival are up there across the social media platforms. So all our contact details are up there. Reach out and, uh, no questions to small. Happy to help.

Yeah. Focused on e-commerce. Uh, all the details for this year's festival are up there across the social media platforms. So all our contact details are up there. Reach out and, uh, no questions to small. Happy to help.

Ron, great to catch up as always. They keep up the great work and we'll chat throughout the year.

Ron, great to catch up as always. They keep up the great work and we'll chat throughout the year.

Thank you Peter. Much appreciated.

Thank you Peter. Much appreciated.

It's Ryan Goodwin there. The very hard working Ron Goodwin. Remember the last time we spoke to him? He was all dressed up in his bow tie, but he's also got his, uh, work clobber on now for the film festival for this year. We'll put those details up on our Facebook page. In fact, we'll put them up with our show notes as well. The focus on the film festival up and running for 2020.

It's Ryan Goodwin there. The very hard working Ron Goodwin. Remember the last time we spoke to him? He was all dressed up in his bow tie, but he's also got his, uh, work clobber on now for the film festival for this year. We'll put those details up on our Facebook page. In fact, we'll put them up with our show notes as well. The focus on the film festival up and running for 2020.