Senior community wins awards for short film

TAMPA (FOX 13) - A senior living community has won some big awards for a short film it produced.

Residents and staff at Regency Oaks Senior Living Community came together to discuss their movie "No Time to Get Old.” 

"I loved it," resident Johanna Guzik, who acted in the film, said.

They entered their movie into Brookdale's Celebrate Aging Film Festival and won for best writing and the People's Choice Award.

"To actually win is a great feeling and we definitely knocked it out of the park," Sandra Vannatter, the Human Resource Director for Regency Oaks said.

The festival was established this year to help change the perception about aging. 

Martha Mascharka acted in the film.

She says, "Just because you're getting older in years doesn't mean that you are old."

To enter the contest, the film has to be 5 minutes long and have staff and residents as actors. They also had to shoot the story with an iPad.

"It's a thrill for me anyway because I get to work with young people," Frank Twait said.

"Ours had pep and energy and humor it was really spectacular," Johanna said.

It was a creative and fun way to bring a touching message about growing old.