D’Oscars

Yey! It’s back! After many lovely years at Queen’s Hall Hexham the D’Oscars returns to the Phoenix Theatre Blyth. Headway Arts has worked with Haltwhistle Film Project to resurrect this wonderful Red Carpet Event.

Taking place on Thursday 6th November 2025 we will be awarding D’Oscars to the best films in each of the categories below. So put your tuxedos and ballgowns on, grab a glass of bubbly and join us for a star-studded celebration of film by artists who are learning disabled or neurodiverse. Tickets will be on sale soon.

Would you like to win a D’Oscar?

All you have to do is submit a short film before Friday 17th October 2025 to be in with a chance. There are 6 categories:

  • Drama
  • Dance
  • Documentary
  • Animation
  • Short Film (3 minutes or less)

So choose your category, check the boring stuff below and submit your film.

The boring stuff:

  1. We only screen films that are made by, or featuring people who are learning disabled or neurodiverse. Please don’t enter if you do not identify as such.
  2. Films should be no longer than 20 minutes (short films should be 3 minutes or less).
  3. Films must be supplied digitally. You can use Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox, or Vimeo. Please ensure you enable downloading of the file. Please name your files with the film title and group name. Accepted formats: mp4, avi, mov (h.264). Email your links to admin@headwayarts.co.uk
  4. Films must be submitted by Friday 17th October 2025.
  5. You must have permission in writing to use all the music in your film.
  6. Headway Arts will watch the films prior to the event and has the right not to show any inappropriate material.

View the boring stuff in accessible video format here.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of all our funders which recently includes:

  • Architectural Heritage Fund
  • Arts Council England
  • Blyth Town Council
  • Community Foundation
  • Edward Gostling Foundation – RW Mann Trust – Shears Foundation
  • Erasmus+
  • Hadrian Trust – High Sheriff of Northumberland – Rothley Trust
  • Henry Smith
  • Heritage Fund
  • National Lottery Community Fund
  • North East Combined Authority
  • Northumberland County Council
  • Postcode Community Trust
  • Scope
  • Sir James Knott Trust
  • The 1989 Willan Trust – Wellesley Trust
  • the Coalfields Regeneration Trust
  • This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
  • This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – North of Tyne Combined Authority