April 5:
Aaltra (France, 2004. Directors: Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern. 92 minutes) Critically acclaimed, irreverent wheelchair road movie by Delépine and Kervern, who wrote, directed, and co-star in the film. Aaltra shows a distinct flair for understated physical comedy and defiantly non-PC humor.
May 3: Born Freak (UK, 2004. Director:
Paul Sapin. 50 Minutes) British actor Mat Fraser joins disTHIS! for an exclusive Q&A session following the screening as viewers join him on an imaginative historical journey, filmed in part at Coney Island, exploring how and why disabled performers like himself survived by working in freak shows, traveling in carnivals across the U.K. and the U.S.
June 7: How's Your News (USA, 1999. Director: Arthur Bradford. 82 minutes) is a surprisingly unsentimental —and often hilarious—film about a group of disabled adults who set out to interview unsuspecting passers-by on a cross-country road trip from Maine to California. Director Arthur Bradford will be there to answer your questions following the screening! HYN doesn't challenge attitudes about disability, it explodes them, so much so that even Sundance was afraid to screen it.
July 5: Sixth Happiness (UK, 1997. Director:
Waris Hussein. 91 minutes) is a
semi-autobiographical tale based on the book, Trying to Grow by Firdaus Kanga which chronicles his experiences growing up as a gay, disabled Parsee in Bombay. The film
deptly avoids cliches and stereotypes about India, disability or sexuality and steadfastly refuses to pander to political correctness.
August 2: F**k The Disabled (USA, 2002. Director: Eli Kabillio. 84 minutes) Part documentary, part concert film and part traditional filmed Seinfeld-esque comedy starring disabled, gay comedian Greg Walloch, who joins us for the screening! The film chronicles Walloch's performances, life and daily trips to and from his apartment in Harlem, as FTD "keeps it real" in groundbreaking hilarous fashion.
September 6: The Cost of Living (UK, 2004. Director: Lloyd Newsom, 35 minutes)
A film like no other! Follow a disparate group of dancers (including one with no legs. Yes, you read that correctly...) as they clash with each other and the local community. Be dazzled in mind and eye by the narrative drive, bold dance pieces and unforgettable characters within.
October 4: Halloween Double Feature! Freaks (USA, 1932. Director: Tod Browning,
62 minutes)
has the unique position of being both condemned and beloved by disability rights advocates.
See why. Shown with Killer Cure (UK, 2003.
Director: Steve Carolan.
12 minutes)
Shoot Your Mouth Off Productions presents a surreal satire in which three people with cerebral palsy dare to dive into the belief disabled people are being punished for sins committed in past lives.
November
1: Every Time You Look At Me (UK, 2004. Director: Alrick Riley. 90 Minutes) does romance with a disability bent in the critically-acclaimed BBC drama of two disabled people who find they are surprisingly very attracted to each other. Watch their love grow as they tackle prejudice – both their own and the suspicions of others – head on.
December 8: SHAMELESS: The Art of Disability (Canada, 2006. Director:
Bonnie Sherr Klein. 70 Minutes)
Art, activism and disability are the nexus for this funny and intimate portrait of five disabled artists, including Klein herself who returns to film-making following a stroke. Humorist David Roche, who is featured in the film will join us to answer your questions following the screening!
2007
2008
2009
2010