Disability Film Festival

University of Oregon Disability Studies Film Festival

We are currently not accepting submissions for our festival.

Cinema Sensibilities on Disability: The Inaugural UO Disability Film Festival

On April 2123, 2005 the Disability Studies Committee at the University of Oregon (UO), the UO Disability Studies Projectand Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA) in cooperation with the UO Cultural Forum, inaugurated a film and video festival devoted to the experience of disability. The festival was held in conjunction with "Art-cess-able," a three day event focusing on disability culture and access to the arts to people with disabilities.

2005 Program

Scary Lewis Yell-A-Thon. Diane Wilkins, Director. 8 min., captioned.
The Mayor of West Side. Judd Ehrlich, Director. 38 min., no captioning.
Annie Dearest. Diane Wilkins, Director. 8 min., captioned and signing during last half.
Panel discussion on Media Portrayals and Inclusion.
Loud, Proud, and Female.
Independent Little Cuss. Jeff Patterson, Director. No captioning.
Loud, Proud and Prosperous. Dana Vion, Director. 30 min., captioned.
Fe Fe Stories. Salome Chasnoff, Director. No captioning.
Film clips from Birds of a Feather. Bjo Ashwill, Director. No captioning.
Panel discussion on Women, Imagery and Media. Panelists: Carole Patterson, Bjo Ashwill, Lezlie Frye, Gweneth Van Frank Carlson.
Panel discussion on film Million Dollar Baby and Terry Schiavo. Panelists: Jeanne-Marie Moore, Dan Arkin, Lynn McKinney, Carole Patterson, and other community activists

Intersecting Identities: The Second Annual UO Disability Film Festival

On April 27-29, 2006, the Disability Studies Committee at the University of Oregon (UO) in cooperation with the UO Disability Project and the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA) held its second annual film festival devoted to the experience of disability.

2006 Program

Little Man: From Nightmare to Miracle, and Back Again (2005). Nicole Conn, Director. 112 min., captioned, Documentary, USA. A micro-preemie brought a family to its knees: Lesbian couple filmmaker Nicole Conn and political activist Gwen Baba learned how science and medicine "can" keep a fetus alive. But at what price?
39 Pounds of Love. Dani Menken, Director. 70 min., captioned, documentary, Israeli. Ami Ankilewitz has a rare form of muscular dystrophy. The 3D animator's bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left hand. He outlives a doctor's prediction of life expectancy by over 28 years. Discussants: UO Film Studies graduate students Raphael Raphael and Carter Soles will introduce their research and interest around representation in film then lead an audience-engaging discussion entitled "Decoding the Extraordinary Body in Cinema."
Touch the Sound: A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie. Thomas Riedelsheimer, Director. 99 min., captioned, documentary, German. The story of Evelyn Glennie, virtuoso percussionist, who only happens to be deaf. Glennie says hearing isn't in the ears, it's under your skin. Discussant: Journalist and author Brett Campbell has interviewed & followed Evelyn Glennie in her teaching and performing roles. Mr. Campbell is a former UO Journalism Professor and a contributing writer to the Eugene Weekly, Wall Street Journal and former editor of the Oregon Quarterly and Texas Observer. Mr. Campbell will begin with a summary of his experiences with and impressions of Evelyn Glennie and then follow with a moderated discussion with the audience. Read the Evelyn Glennie Disability Essay, and the Evelyn Glennie Hearing Essay.
JazzArtSigns: See, Hear, & Feel the Music. Lisa Thorson, Director. 12 min., promotional, USA. Jazz vocalist Lisa Thorson, leads multimedia, multisensory interactive jazz performance that makes jazz accessible to all. Promotional mini-film captures Thorson's work.
Murderball (2005). Jeffrey Mandel, Dana Adam Shapiro, Producers. Note: Rated R for some language and sexual content. Captioned, documentary, USA. Quadriplegic rugby players smash every stereotype. Sundance Film Festival winner, controversial film about standing up, even after your spirit--or spine--has been crushed.
The Kids Are All Right. Kerry Richardson, Director. 30 min., captioned, documentary, USA. Jerry's Orphans challenge the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) telethon's representation of people with disabilities.
Speed Racer: Welcome to the World of Vic Chesnutt (1993). Peter Sillen, Director. Roots-rock singer and songwriter Vic Chesnutt is a paraplegic who was injured in a car accident when he was 18. Artists such as Madonna, Hootie & the Blowfish, Smashing Pumpkins and R.E.M. have covered the songs of Chesnutt.

Disability Studies Initiative Home