VSA arts Playwright Discovery Program   Deadline April 11, 2008
The VSA arts Playwright Discovery Program invites middle and high school students to take a closer look at the world around them, examine how disability affects their lives and the lives of others, and express their views through the art of playwriting. Playwrights may write from their own experience or about an experience in the life of another person or fictional character. Young playwrights with and without disabilities are encouraged to submit a script. Entries may be the work of an individual student or collaboration by a group or class of students.

The winning play will be professionally produced at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The winning playwright receives $2,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., to see his/her play performed. All submissions must be postmarked by April 11, 2008 for consideration.

For more information, to download the official rules, guidelines, applications and resources, please visit the VSA Arts website

Astral Media Mentorship Award   Deadline April 21, 2008
Presented by Women in Film and Television - Toronto in partnership with Astral Media. Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) is pleased to announce the Call for Application for the first annual Astral Media Mentorship Award program. This national competitive program will give one talented Canadian female or male producer of a visible minority, Aboriginal or disabled group, the invaluable opportunity to prepare for the 2008 Banff World Television Festival through an intensive pre-festival mentorship and festival bursary with an Astral Media Executive.

Eligibility: Candidates must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for consideration:

• Canadian citizen
• Member of a visible minority, Aboriginal or disabled group
• Must be a member WIFT-T (may join at the time of application)
• Female or male independent producer
• Must have up to two credits (drama or children's programming)
• Must have a minimum of three years professional experience in the television industry
• Must be attending Banff World Television Festival for the first time as a producer
• Must be able to attend mentorship sessions in Banff and Toronto
• Must complete Final Report

Application Process:
Fully completed application packages must be submitted to WIFT-T by Monday, April 21, 2008 at 12 p.m. EST. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of industry representatives. Decisions will be announced in May, 2008. Application and Guidelines will be available early next week.

PLEASE NOTE: A $25 administration fee, paid by credit card or cheque, will be required to process your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For further information regarding the application process, please contact:
Women in Film and Television – Toronto: Tel: 416.322.3430 x221 www.wift.com/mentorships_08_astralmedia_applications.htm

Project Ability: "My Life in Pictures" – Call For Entries   Deadline April 30, 2008
Project Ability is one of Scotland's leading specialist arts organisations. Since 1984 we have been promoting equality of access to the arts by supporting people of all ages and abilities to take part in innovative visual arts projects. We work with children and adults with a learning disability, people with mental health problems, and others who find it difficult to access mainstream activities.

Project Ability invites people acros the globe to take part in "My Life in Pictures" – A photographic exhibition about people with learning disabilities, by people with learning disabilities. "My Life in Pictures" is a celebration of good times. It is an exhibition of your photographs, taken by you, which capture and celebrate the achievements of people with learning disabilities – showing the people, places and achievements which you are proudest of.

The pictures can show: friends, family, lovers, hobbies, awards, your house, your new kitchen, parties, holidays, pets, your job... (And so on.)

The exhibition will raise issues of identity and learning disability culture, and these themes will be further developed through a programme of workshops and talks linked to the exhibition. We want to create a huge library of positive and celebratory images of people with learning disabilities taking control of their lives and achieving success on their terms ...

The exhibition will be held in Project Ability's Gallery 1 from the 5 June – 15 August 2008.

Entry Guidelines:

• The closing date for images is April 30, 2008
• Each image must be labelled with your name, the title of the work and a short description
• If you are sending digital images they must be a minimum of 300dpi and in either jpeg or tiff format, sized at a minimum of 10 x 15 cm
• If people are in the photographs you must have their agreement to be photographed.

For more information and to download the Entry Form, please visit Project Ability at www.project-ability.co.uk

VSA arts Call for Teaching Artists with Disabilities   Deadline May 07, 2008
VSA arts is seeking applications from artist-educators for the Teaching Artist Fellowship program. The Teaching Artist Fellowship seeks to identify, engage, and support outstanding teaching artists with disabilities in the visual and performing arts.

Deadline: May 7, 2008

About the Fellowship Program:

• Orientation in Washington, DC and professional development designed especially for teaching artists
• Subscriptions/memberships within the teaching artist network (i.e. Teaching Artist Journal, Art Education, Teaching Theatre)
• Networking and teaching opportunities in Washington, DC (stipend and travel costs)

Applications Open to Artists with Disabilities With:

• Demonstrated experience working in pre-K-12 classrooms within the past 3 years
• Familiarity with inclusive settings and educational standards
• Artistic achievement in visual or performing arts
• Ability to travel

Artists should demonstrate excellence in their chosen artistic discipline within the past year, as determined through their support materials.

Timeline:

• Notification of all applicants by Friday, May 23, 2008
• Selected Teaching Artist Fellows must commit to the Teaching Artist Professional Development Retreat in Washington, DC, held August 18-22, 2008
• Attendance at the VSA arts Start with the Arts Festival held May 30-31, 2008

For more information on benefits, additional criteria and to download an Application form, please visit the VSA Arts website

Moscow International Disability Film Festival Breaking Down Barriers IV:   Postmark deadline June 01, 2008
Perspektiva, a Russian Disability Organization, is now accepting submissions for the fourth International Disability Film Festival “Breaking Down Barriers” to take place in Moscow, November 14-17, 2008, and later in a minimum of 20 regions of Russia and 7 NIS countries: Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Byelorussia.

During the first three festivals nearly 300 films from 30 countries were screened. More than 4,000 people attended festival activities in Moscow, extensive media coverage was solicited. Festivals were also held in 20 regions of Russia and the NIS where more than 10,000 people attended. Perspektiva and its partners continue to use these films to educate people in their communities about a wide variety of disability issues.

Eligibility requirements:
All works submitted for the Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival should portray a disability issue. We encourage films that have been produced by and with the participation of persons with disabilities. Any size is welcome, including public service announcements.

All works must have been produced after January 1, 2000.

1. All works must be postmarked by June 1, 2008.
2. All works that are not in Russian should be submitted in English or with English sub-titles. Transcripts should also be included.

The preferred format is PAL, but if this is a problem, films will be accepted in other formats. However, if a film is chosen for viewing at the festival, a Betacam or DVD PAL version will be required. If selected for viewing, filmmakers will also be asked to submit photos

For more information on the Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival or to download an application form, see Perspektiva's sites: eng.perspektiva-inva.ru and festival-eng.perspektiva-inva.ru/

Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival - Student Film Competition:   Deadline for entries September 05, 2008
CTD is hosting the award winning fifth annual Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival to promote community awareness of the capability of people with disabilities. We are also excited to host our Second Annual Student Film Competition, with separate divisions for Secondary Level (grades 6-12) and College students.

Entrants must send the submission form and Entry Fee of $40.00 to CTD by September 5, 2008
to register for the Cinema Touching Disability Student Film Competition.
CTD will contact finalists by Friday, September 26, 2008
Secondary School Finalists honored on Fri. Oct. 3, 2008
College Finalists will be honored on Sat. Oct. 4, 2008

Eligibility Requirements:

• Length of entry must be between 5 and 20 minutes
• Film must meet one of the following criteria:
  – Have a disability theme
  – Be made by a person with a disability (or have a person with a disability on production crew of film)
  – Star a person with a disability
• Film must be submitted in DVD format
• Film must be clearly labeled and include:
  – Electronic copy of script (for captioning)
  – Film title
  – Length of the film
  – Name of the filmmaker
  – Filmmaker's phone number and email address
  – Division: Secondary Level Student (grades 6-12) or College Student
  – Ten (10) copies of the DVD movie must be submitted by September 5, 2008

Prizes:
Films of ALL FINALISTS will be premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse during the Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival. Winners will receive:
– 1st Place: $500.00 cash/prizes
– 2nd Place: $250.00 cash/prizes
– 3rd Place: Commemorative plaque

For more information on the Competition, download an application form, how and where to submit the $40 Entry Fee, please visit the CTD website at : www.ctdfilmfest.org