Today was the first day of Access All Areas Film Festival 2009 and let me tell you, it was a cracker!

Our first stop on this year's tour was St Gabriel's School For Hearing Impaired Children in Castle Hill, screening 6 Australian short films for kids.

Battling through an early start and sweltering humidity we arrived ahead of time to set up the equipment for the screening and got to meet some of the staff and students.

Everyone was so lovely and excited, they even made the school's public notice sign into a welcome for the festival (check out the photo!!) and the children were really intrigued as we set up for the screening...

After lunch and everyone was seated the principal, Diane, introduced Matt, Marianne and myself and we kicked off the screening with "Tin Can Heart" - a beautiful short film that is also up for an IF Award in the next few days! Keep your eyes on that one!

Following the film we were delighted to have Rod March, the director, at the school for a question and answer session with the kids, who all loved the film and gave him a huge round of applause, after quizzing him on the film and how it was made, of course! 

Following the rest of the program we had an afternoon tea of delicious biscuits and juice and got to mingle and talk about the films with the kids, as well as chat to the teachers about access to films and cinema in Australia, what's going on and what needs to be done, it was fantastic to hear their feedback, one of the main aims of the festival!

Students and teachers alike (and us as well) were thrilled at how today went and I can't wait until tomorrow.

What a great start to the festival!
Better get some sleep for the early morning start tomorrow :)

See you then,
AAAFF Team