What: "Low Vision/Blind" Film Fest

- The First Annual Film Festival for Low Vision/Blind Film Makers

When: April 12 - 13, 2021

in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration of the American Foundation for the Blind

Where: Greater DC Area,

the Hyatt Regency, Crystal City Virginia

Why: This film festival provides a supportive environment (virtually leading up to the in person festival in 2021) for those living with vision loss/blindness while providing a platform. This is a cause for creativity and a place to showcase great work from a grateful group of both blind and legally blind people (who have some usable vision, often transitioning to total blindness).

Film makers who are VI/Blind will find ample opportunities for leadership roles as they produce their films. Films made by legally blind film makers likely will feature legally blind people, naturally raising awareness! All finalists will be invited to the screening and VIP Celebrity party in the Greater DC area in April 2021. Some crowd favorite film makers will have their travel costs sponsored in accordance with donations.

Categories:

1. My Vision Story & Unique Heroic Identity

(Sponsored by Unblinded) Prize TBA

Imagine hundreds of these being shared on social media

(5 - 10 minutes) easy to participate

- What is your eye condition?

- What makes you unique?

- How have you thrived?

2. Short film

(10 and 30 minutes) documentary or scripted

suggested subjects and special prizes for:

General submission featuring a lead character or subject who is VI/Blind - Cash Prize of $---

Almost Blind Moments

(win a contract to film Almost Blind commercial featuring LV Celebrity & Low Vision Ambassadors)

Blind Etiquette Explained

(win an exclusive lunch with Kirk Adams, film shown at AFB Hellen Keller Awards)

Working with Vision Loss

(Sponsored by LVI, win a contract to make web video for LVI and a $1000 gift card)

3. Feature Length

(any film longer than 30 minutes only 10 can be selected for the live festival)

General submission featuring a lead character or subject who is VI/Blind - Cash Prize of $---

Desired Participation Outcome:

Online: 500 unique films (including 5 min. shorts) featured before live festival

50 Million online views (influencers will direct their own audience to our channel)

Live Festival: 10 full length and 50 shorts featured over 2 screens over 2 days

500 live attendees from various communities

Judges and Selecting winners:

Celebrity judges will have votes for both the online and live festival as judge's choice awards. This will add excitement to the selection process for all parties involved. In addition judges will be representatives from the nation's largest blindness organizations such as AFB, NFB, ACB, and Henshaws from the UK.

Budget:

Attendee Ticket for 2-Day festival = $20

$10,000 set cost for Venue and Staff for 2 days

Marketing budget, prizes, travel scholarships will all be on a sliding scale reflecting sponsors

Ideally we have 50 K annual operating budget for staff

Management Plan

- 1 full-time staff member can manage the following

March:

-Marketing-

(film makers):

- 1. Compile spreadsheet with contact info for each state Vocational Rehabilitation office, and each training center in each state.

- 2. Prepare Social media blitz in all blind related groups especially "Blind Youtubers" 'Call for Films Ad'

(General Audience):

Launch the festival website (March 30)

(Sponsors):

Approach LVI and Aira as first sponsors after AFB blessing approach Youtube Red to request meeting

- AFB, Almost Blind, Unblinded, WeWear, Far, Low Vision Shop

April:

-Marketing-

(film makers):

- 1. Call for Films: Email and call spreadsheet of people for each state Vocational Rehabilitation office, and each training center in each state.

- 2. Call for Films: Launch Social media blitz in all blind related groups especially "Blind Youtubers"

- 3. Monthly Check-in Film making workshops (VOICE: Story Telling) - Promote to above groups

- Begin accepting films April 30

(General Audience):

Launch = win a VIP trip to the festival - "Did you know?" trailers through social media open to everyone, blind or not by sharing with a personal message of support.

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

Microsoft or Apple 100 K? - Pepsi or Coke 50 K? - Warner Brothers or Disney 50 K? - Uber or Lyft 25 K - Lions Club or Rotary 25 K

NOTE-- Reach out to universities "service clubs" to recruit interns

POSSIBLY ATTEND the BEP annual training event in Chicago April 14 -16 promote festival and Unblinded.

May:

(film makers):

- 1. Call and arrange info webinars by state with NFB chapter presidents

- 2. Contact and request 5 minute Interviews of "Blind Youtubers" to promote on social media about film making with vision loss

- 3. Email followup blast to spreadsheet of state vocational Rehab and training centers

- 4. (Basic video editing tips q and a) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- Release first press releases announcing some of the early entries.

continue = win a VIP trip to the festival

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

Hyatt or Hilton 20K - American or United 25K - Verizon or AT&T 50K -

NOTE-- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

June:

(film makers):

- 1. Call TO ACB presidents by state to arrange webinars to recruit film makers

- 2. Call to VA administrations by state to host webinars for potential VA film makers who are VI

- 3. CALL to followup on spreadsheet of state vocational Rehab and training centers

- 4. (Interviewing tips, social media posting tips) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- Interviewed by the blind, man on the street - "I say blind you say" social media campaign

continue = win a VIP trip to the festival

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

Door Dash or Postmates 20K - AMC Theatre or Harkins 50K - Chevron or Citgo (Fueling your future) 50K -

NOTE-- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

July:

-Marketing-

(film makers):

- 1. Call for Films: Email and call spreadsheet of people for each state Vocational Rehabilitation office, and each training center in each state.

- 2. Call for Films: Social media blitz in all blind related groups especially "Blind Youtubers"

- 3. (Promoting your film) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to above groups

(General Audience):

Announce first winner of a VIP trip to the film festival, next winner to be announced in Jan, buzz social media - Excited testimonial of winner who is going to the first annual VI/Blind film festival.

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

Starbucks or Dunkin 20 K? - website accessibility company 10 K? - Walmart or Target 25 K?

NOTE-- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

NFB National convention Houston July 14 -19

August:

(film makers):

- 1. Call and arrange info webinars by state with NFB chapter presidents

- 2. Contact and request 5 minute Interviews of "Blind Youtubers" to promote on social media about film making with vision loss

- 3. Email followup blast to spreadsheet of state vocational Rehab and training centers

- 4. (Finding people to assist with your film) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- UPDATE: press releases announcing some of the NEW entries and happenings for the festival as it approaches

continue = win a VIP trip to the festival

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

America's Best or Lens Crafters 25K - Pizza Hut or Papa John's 25 K - Chevy or Ford (Transportation vehicle to be auctioned off after festival)

NOTE-- Blind Surfing EVENT with Visual Experience Foundation

---Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

September:

(film makers):

- 1. Call TO introduce guest film maker to ACB presidents by state to arrange webinars to recruit film makers

- 2. Call to 50 state university accessibility departments for promotion

- 3. CALL to followup on spreadsheet of state vocational Rehab and training centers

- 4. (Sound Editing and tips for great audio) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- "Meet my blind friend" coffee shop man on the street social media campaign - Interviewed by the blind,

continue = win a VIP trip to the festival

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

Comcast or Dish 20K - NBA or NFL 20K - Time Magazine or People 20 K

NOTE-- NYC Fundraiser event at Billy Fowlers bar

--- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

October:

(film makers):

- 1. Film Festival staff interviewed on 4 podcasts of visually impaired influencers

- 2. Call to VA administrations by state to host webinars for potential VA film makers who are VI

- 3. Email followup blast to spreadsheet of state vocational Rehab and training centers

- 4. (Finding creative flow) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- Reach out to Late night shows with some of our film makers

continue = win a VIP trip to the festival

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

NOTE-- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

Nov:

(film makers):

- 1. Call for Films: Email and call spreadsheet of people for each state Vocational Rehabilitation office, and each training center in each state.

- 2. Call for Films: Social media blitz in all blind related groups especially "Blind Youtubers"

- 3. (Understanding process in film making) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to above groups

(General Audience):

- What I'm grateful for, viral messaging on social media started by the blind film makers - Passed to the sighted.

continue = win a VIP trip to the festival

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

NOTE-- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

Dec:

(film makers):

- 1. Call and arrange info webinars by state with NFB chapter presidents

- 2. Contact and request 5 minute Interviews of "Blind Youtubers" to promote on social media about film making with vision loss

- 3. Email followup blast to spreadsheet of state vocational Rehab and training centers

- 4. (Basic video editing tips q and a) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

-Tag a VIP (visually impaired person) for the holidays campaign. - .

continue = win a VIP trip to the festival

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

NOTE-- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

Jan:

(film makers):

- 1. Final call: to ACB presidents by state to arrange webinars to recruit film makers

- 2.Final Call to: 50 state university accessibility departments for promotion

- 3. Final Call: to followup on spreadsheet of state vocational Rehab and training centers

- 4. (Bringing together final elements of a project) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- "Announce second winner of a VIP trip to the film festival'

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

NOTE--

--- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

Feb:

(film makers):

- 1. (Future of Film making) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- webinar featuring blind film makers, promoted through social media

- FB and Google Words Ad Campaign

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

NOTE--

--- Hold Intern/volunteer social media staff training via webinar

March:

(film makers):

- 1. (Meet the film makers of the festival) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- webinar featuring blind film makers, promoted through social media

-- FB and Google ad campaign

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

NOTE - Host a booth at CSUN

-- Training for volunteers and interns for event

April:

(film makers):

- 1. (Preview of films) Monthly Check-in Film making workshops - Promote to groups listed above

(General Audience):

- webinar featuring blind film makers, promoted through social media

-- Press tour

(Sponsors):

Approach title sponsors to begin discussion:

Facility Usage:

The Hyatt staff will arrange 500 chairs in a large room with a wall that serves as a divider between the grand room, so it can be divided into two theaters. The room will begin open for the welcome event Monday April 12 from 9 -10:30 and then again for the awards ceremony Tuesday April 13 from 7 - 9:30.

The large room will be equipped with two large screens and separate sound systems fully equipped with all amenities, staff to operate and security is provided. Snacks are also available through the hotel for our attendees.

Room Block available through the Hyatt: A courtesy price is available for rooms.

Inclusion Plan:

Sighted guides (volunteers) will be available to help guests to their seats. There will be special seating for those who need it. Also there will be translators and interpreters available upon advance request.

Staffing and Facilitation:

There will be staff of volunteers who promote the festival under the supervision of two paid staff members.

Policies: All films must be appropriate for a general audience; this is a film festival for the cause of raising awareness of VI/blindness and the abilities we have.

The Clean up:

Hyatt STAFF and the CIVICS center staff will do all clean up

Promotion Plan:

The film festival is promoted online through social media. We will send press releases to all major news outlets and schools for the blind. We will promote the contest online to all the youtube creators who are blind.