The Screen South team celebrate with Director Mike Leigh

uScreen, a digital media project part of the Trust’s South East programme Accentuate has won a prestigious AMI award. The Ability Media International (AMI) awards were created 3 years ago to recognise outstanding creative work which leads to a more tolerant and inclusive world.

The achievements of the winners not only have a major social and cultural impact but they will also inspire students at the Ability Media Centre developed by Leonard Cheshire Disability in London, designed to assist people from under-represented groups to gain access to the media industries.

The award was presented on 20 November at a glittering ceremony at the world famous London Studios. The packed event was attended by some of the UK Arts industry’s most influential and well respected players – including Downton Abbey actor Dame Maggie Smith, childrens’ TV pioneer Anna Home and filmmaker Mike Leigh.

Heralded by the international panel of judges as ‘innovative’ and ‘particularly tailored to disabled young people’s needs’, the uScreen project won ‘The Interactive Media Award 2011’. The multi-media learning and collaborating project, based around the uScreen website, enables its young users to make and edit films, learn new skills and build expert contact with mentors and specialists across the UK and internationally.

Renowned film producer Nik Powell (“Company of Wolves”, Mona Lisa”, “The Crying Game”), presented the award to Screen South’s Chief Executive Jo Nolan and Executive Director Special Projects, Sarah Dance.  They said “ Screen South is absolutely delighted to win this award.  We are passionate about ensuring that all young people have access to making, showing and sharing their own films. Only 1% of people working in the film industry have a disability and through uScreen we hope to begin to open up an exciting world of film making possibilities and potential progression routes for young disabled people” .

The groundbreaking uScreen project launched early on this autumn at the BFI.  The launch event provided an opportunity for some of the young people who have been involved with uScreen to showcase their films on a big screen to an influential audience.

One of the young people, Stephanie Howell, wrote and directed the talking heads film, Don’t Judge Me, which came from her experiences after her accident which resulted in her becoming a wheelchair user.

Stephanie Howell said: “I was lost until I managed to do this -  uScreen made me feel I am found and that I have a voice.”

There are already very promising signs that demonstrate this really is a resource that can break down barriers and provide opportunities for young people to be ambitious.

Dan Edge, disabled actor, writer and uScreen mentor said, “uScreen as a project enables young people contact with industry people they wouldn’t normally meet and the chance to tap into the knowledge when they need it.”

uScreen has already had over 7000 visitors to the site,  currently has 512 active members and this figure is growing fast.  It is also developing an international membership with 23 members from South Africa and 12 members from Louisiana and New York, as well as 51 members in Europe.  To find out more about uScreen visit www.uscreen.co.uk.