The charming web series Amy Street, by WIFTers Kirsty Griffin and Viv Kernick, is winning hearts and gaining increasing recognition overseas.
The series of eight short films follows residents of the Supported Life Style Hauraki Trust on Amy Street, Thames, exploring their hopes, dreams, challenges and relationships as they navigate a complex world. (Pictured above: Topsy & Dave.)
Most recently, two of the doco shorts have been translated into Spanish for this month's Buenos Aires Web Festival in Argentina. Some or all of the stories have also screened at:
- Cleveland International Film Festival (US)
- Seattle Web Festival (US)
- Show Me Shorts Film festival (NZ)
- Sprout Touring Film Festival (US)
- Ethan Saylor Film Festival (US)
- Oskar Bright Film Festival (UK)
- International Online web fest (UK).
The films focus on the people and their personalities rather than their disability, and grew from a short film named Wayne, which was made as part of the 2014 Loading Docs initiative and won the 'award of recognition' at the Best Shorts Competition in Los Angeles.
The films have also had some great media coverage: Story, Saturday Morning with Kim Hill and the NZ Herald.
Kirsty and Viv have their fingers crossed to hear in May if they have been accepted into Diversity in Cannes. All our appendages are crossed too!
You can watch Amy Street via TVNZ On Demand and at their website.