Corporate ‘Best’ carries strong message

David Stavenow, Producer

The Swedish government wanted a meeting opener that reached people who aren’t disabled about the issues faced by those who are. “Accessibility Now” was the result. The film, starring disabled, non-professional actors, approached the message from the viewpoint of the disabled and wowed the audience as a result.

“A superbly executed message” was how judges described “Accessibility Now” when it selected the film as Best of Festival in Corporate in the 2007 U.S. International Film And Video Festival. The international panel of judges who chose the Grand Prix winners also called the film “an outstanding piece of work and a great use of humour to communicate a serious message.”

“Accessibility Now” was produced by David Stavenow of Animech AB, Uppsala, Sweden. Since the message was to be presented from the viewpoint of the disabled worker, Stavenow designed the set to reflect the world of disabled people. Stavenow is tall, so he imaged that someone using a wheelchair doesn’t need high ceilings and lowered the ceiling of the set. That caused a problem for a non-disabled person walking upright. Documents were printed in Braille so a seeing-applicant couldn’t read them.

The production was not the usual type for Animech, which began as an animation company, he said. The production was entered by Animech and Web-IT, Stockholm. It also won a Gold Camera First Place Award.

As a result of the success of the production, public service announcements are being produced on the theme and the meeting opener is headed for viewing on commercial television, Stavenow said.