The Arc of Larimer County is proud to announce Bryson Clark as the winner of their Annual Film Festival Contest. His film, “Friends at First Sight,” depicts the friendship between two young girls who both live with disabilities and are on the autism spectrum.
Ava Hoglin and Juni Godfrey met at a park in 2020, and the two were immediately inseparable. Ava’s mom, Jennifer Hoglin, and Juni’s mom, Holly Godfrey, knew each other as children growing up in Colorado. They lost contact over the years, but recently reconnected and realized that they both had daughters who live with disabilities.
Godfrey said, “The girls’ friendship has made us all realize how important friendship is in life. The girls have grown and blossomed with each other by their side.”
Godfrey and Hoglin both hope that the film is an opportunity to highlight the strength and power of friendship in everyone’s lives and dispel myths about autism and friendship. Their daughters are equally excited, with Ava saying, “So Juni and I are going to be famous now!”
Clark grew up in Keenesburg, Colo., and hopes to be a film writer/ director. He has written and directed two short films.
The Arc of Larimer County holds an Annual Film Festival Contest in conjunction with their Annual Film Festival. All local residents, amateurs and professionals alike, are welcome to enter a short film about intellectual/ developmental disability into the contest. The winner is awarded $500 and their project is shown at the Film Festival along with other national and international films.
“Friends at First Sight” will accompany seven other local, national, and international short films at The Arc of Larimer County’s Annual Film Festival. Held at the Holiday Twin Drive-In, the film festival starts at 8:30 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. on May 20, 2021. Films range from two minutes long to 27 minutes long, focusing on individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). Some films will be serious, some humorous but all will spread awareness.
Purchase tickets today at www.arlc.org/film. All proceeds support the mission of The Arc of Larimer County.