This week we had a visit from Andrew Cohen, a teacher from the Brooklyn Friend’s School in New York. 15 years ago Andrew set up a film festival which is called the Bridge Film Festival, named presumably after the Brooklyn Bridge, but also symbolically acting as a bridge between Quaker schools and meetings, at whom the festival is aimed. Each year in March, all Quaker schools, meetings and other Quaker institutions world wide are invited to submit a film, and there are winners in each of four categories: public service, narrative, new media, and documentary. The only constraint is that the films must in some way represent Quaker values and testimonies.
Five years ago the festival was hosted by Ackworth School in the north of England, and for this special 15th anniversary, Andrew is doing tour of schools in the UK, drumming up enthusiasm and support.
Our students were very taken by a film from the Lisbon Friend’s School in Belfast, which can be found on YouTube - and accessed via the Bridge Film Festival blog.
I am really hopeful that we can enter some films for the festival this year, either in small enthusiastic groups, or perhaps even as a whole school project, perhaps organised through houses, and reflecting the Quaker values that each house has adopted. What we need just now are some brilliant ideas on which to work - if you have an idea for a film, however ambitions, please send your ideas to me - ross.wallis@sidcot.org.uk
And remember, there is still artwork from schools across the UK on exhibition in the gallery. The exhibition continues for the coming week.
Ross Wallis
Head of Creative Arts