Locked Out of Life Campaign Wins Gold at the 40th Anniversary Telly Awards

Published On: May 22nd, 2019By UpHouse Team

This year’s Telly Awards attracted a record-breaking number of international entries. UpHouse’s campaign competed among more than 12,000 submissions from top video content producers, including Condé Nast, Netflix and National Geographic.

Other gold winners in the Public Service and Activism category include March for Our Lives, the student-led demonstration in support of legislation to prevent gun violence in the U.S.; Break the Silence, a campaign raising awareness for suicide prevention; and Drag Queen Story Time, a program encouraging children to look beyond gender stereotypes.

“When we first met with the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba and the Public Interest Law Centre, we knew there was an important message to get out,” says Alex Varricchio, co-owner of UpHouse. “We knew we’d need to do something provocative to break through, and it’s been really rewarding to see the video connect and resonate with a wide range of viewers while earning support for adults with physical disabilities in Manitoba as they fight for their rights.”

The Telly Awards honour excellence in video and television across all screens and are judged by international leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, and production companies including Vice, Vimeo, Condé Nast and more.

“UpHouse is pushing the boundaries for video and television innovation and creativity at a time when the industry is rapidly changing,” said Sabrina Dridje, Managing Director of the Telly Awards. “This award is a tribute to the talent and vision of its creators and a celebration of the diversity of work being made today for all screens.”

The Locked Out of Life campaign was created to raise awareness about the plight of young adult Manitobans with physical disabilities. This group cannot access the fundamental care required to participate in the community. They often find themselves feeling locked up at home, waiting on minimal home care hours to cover basic needs. They feel removed from the society they knew as children and teenagers.

Tyson Sylvester and Amy Hampton, two adults with significant physical disabilities, filed human rights complaints against the Province of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority to achieve inclusion and services that would allow them to go to school, work, volunteer and see their friends in the community. As part of the campaign, UpHouse filmed Tyson locking himself in a jail cell in the middle of Winnipeg’s busy Old Market Square. The stunt motivated people to walk up to the jail cell and listen to a recording of Tyson telling his story.

Watch the full “Locked Out of Life” video at lockedoutoflife.com, and find out how you can support Tyson, Amy and other adults with physical disabilities in Manitoba.

About the Telly Awards

The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens and from around the world. The full list of the 40th Annual Telly Awards winners can be found at tellyawards.com/winners.

For more information and to request an interview, please contact:

Alex Varricchio, co-owner, UpHouse 204-995-5965 | [email protected]

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