Images from the film Diagnosis, which will be screened at the Isis Theater on Sunday at 2pm as part of the Disability Film Festival. The film takes place in a psychiatric hospital, where a deaf social worker meets a deaf patient who has been hospitalized for 36 years and is incorrectly diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Courtesy of Øyvind Gregersen
At the recent 45th Aspen Filmfest, the film “Unstoppable” won the festival’s Audience Award. The film is based on the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles, a wrestler who was born with one leg and won an NCAA wrestling championship.
This weekend, Aspen audiences will be treated to nine more films centered around the lives of people living with disabilities at the 5th Annual Disability Film Festival, which will be held at the Isis Theater on Sunday from 2 p.m. It will be. out, and “ability” is capitalized. The event is free to the public.
The festival is produced by Western Colorado University and will also feature a series of films shown Friday night.
“Our mission is to explore innovative strategies that promote inclusivity in classrooms, communities, workplaces, and other settings, and to tell human-centered stories of inclusivity through a juried program of top films from around the world. “It’s all about raising the bar,” Tara Mason said. Co-founder of the festival. “We aim to raise awareness of the human-centered successes achieved when we create inclusive environments in our education, communities, and workplaces.”
Arc of the Central Mountains is a national organization that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their ability to fully participate and participate in their communities throughout their lives. is a local non-profit organization affiliated with Arc.
Heather Williams photographed at her first dance recital. Her story is at the center of director Clint Butler’s After Heather, which chronicles her life before and after suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. This is one of nine films that will be screened as part of the Disability Film Festival at the Isis Theater on Sunday at 2pm.
Provided by Tara Mason
In 2021, Arc of the Central Mountains, Cooke Inc. and Glenwood Parks and Recreation will bring Disability Film Festival to Glenwood Springs, with plans to bring it to Aspen this year It was held there for two years.
“American Film Festival events have always been an important way to educate through community outreach,” said Jill Pidcock, executive director of Arc of the Central Mountains. “The opportunity to tell authentic stories is always the best way to share our mission of protecting the right of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live fully inclusive lives in their communities. We are thinking.”
She added that the community benefits “by being a champion for this inclusion.”
Films screening at this year’s festival include the film Chicken, directed by Lucy McNulty and Emma Pollard. After breaking up with his partner, Sam is forced to return to his childhood home with his mother and schizophrenic brother. Things get worse when she falls into a depression, and her brother Emmett tries to cheer her up. But when Emmett faces being called chicken at a baseball game, Sam steps up to the challenge to help him and remind him of what’s really important.
Directed by Ted Evans, ‘Turn up the Bass’ is a surprising and little-known film by Troy Lee, also known as DJ Chinaman, the unstoppable force behind Britain’s deaf music and rave scene. I am depicting a story that is not true.
Diagnosis is a drama set in a psychiatric hospital in 1996, where Louise, a deaf social worker, meets Patrick, a deaf patient who has been hospitalized for 36 years and was mistakenly diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Louise must fight against discriminatory attitudes in order for Patrick, who is incarcerated, to challenge his diagnosis and be released, but must also recall the painful memories of the events that led to his incarceration.
“The Hip Hops” is directed by Sandra Vivas. This is a story of disability and inclusion from a child’s perspective, based on the filmmaker’s own life.
Directed by Andy Bambach and Suzanne Whiteman, These Are the Sounds I Make is about a young woman with a disability who communicates in a variety of ways, from sounds and gestures to the use of conversation cards and other new technology. The focus is on stains. She enjoys being out in nature, dancing, creating art, connecting with friends, and being involved in decisions that affect her.
Directed by Ricardo Garcia, I Loved to See You centers on a deaf boy who falls in love with a blind girl and his quest to communicate with her while discovering the world around her. This is a story that happened.
The film “How Do You See Me?”, directed by Todd Robertson, focuses on the question of why people with intellectual disabilities live 13 to 20 years less than other people. I’m guessing. Through the eyes of a young woman who sees her disability as a distinct advantage, the film explores the impact of society’s views and perceptions of people with disabilities, and explores the path to a more just future.
“Breaking Normal” was produced for the 2024 Disability Film Challenge. The film stars two neurotic actors: autistic actress Tal Anderson as Kitty and comedian Anthony Purnell, who lives with ADHD, as Mask. This film was directed by Jessica Cabot.
Directed by Clint Butler, After Heather centers on the life journey of a Canadian dancer before and after suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. This work is based on the book “Little Feat: The Story of Heather Williams.”
“I hope people go to the movies and feel that same feeling and inclusivity. We’re more alike than we are different,” Pidcock said. “As people leave the film festival, I hope there is a moment of humility and awareness for all. These films teach us that all abilities have a place in our communities. I will give it to you.”
Free child care is available at Chabad Jewish Community Center for parents of children with disabilities. Email stephanie@fcaspen.com.