Park City, January 17 – In 2020, filmmaker and disability advocate Juliet Romeo reached out to Slamdance co-founder Peter Baxter, stressing the need for a program for and by disabled filmmakers. Conversations turned to action and Slamdance Unstoppable was born. In 2021, the virtual Slamdance Film Festival included a showcase of disability-inclusive short films. In 2023, Slamdance Unstoppable, which included both short and feature films, aired both in-person and virtually. This year, all Slamdance Unstoppable films will screen in both Park City and Salt Lake City.
Uplifting and amplifying stories by disabled filmmakers is vital due to the disproportionately low representation of disability in the entertainment industry both in front of and behind the camera. In a recent study by USC Annenberg, only 1.9% of all speaking characters in the top 100 grossing films of 2022 were portrayed as disabled, an incredibly small number compared to the 27% of the U.S. population that is Disabled. By showcasing this collection, the Slamdance Unstoppable block is helping to change these statistics.
Currently, there are no studies reporting on behind-the-camera talent, such as writers and directors. This is likely because many studios and production companies do not track this information. This also reflects gaps in inclusive and accessible work environments, and hiring processes that create barriers for disabled writers and directors. One way to continue developing and elevating disabled talent is through RespectAbility’s annual Entertainment Lab and bi-annual Entertainment and News Media Fellowship. As such, four of the Slamdance Unstoppable films were created by or feature Lab alumni. As more disabled writers and directors receive opportunities to create their own projects, more authentic and intersectional disability representation will appear on our screens.
In addition to the films, Slamdance Unstoppable will feature two panels:
- On Saturday, January 20, Unstoppable is hosting the panel, “DEIA ASAP – Redefining Narratives in Entertainment Now” at the Yarrow Hotel in Park City. The panel will be moderated by Taylor Miller and feature panelists Juliet Romeo, Ravit Markus, Olivia Kuan, Lauren Appelbaum, Cassidy Dimon, and Barbara Twist.
- On Tuesday, January 23, Unstoppable is hosting the panel, “Parenthood and Disability: Dismantling Hollywood’s Idea,” which will examine and deconstruct the prevailing Hollywood portrayals of parenting, bringing to light the nuanced realities and diverse experiences of parents with disabilities. It will take place at The University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The panel will be moderated by Taylor Miller and feature panelists Nic Novicki, Teale Sperling, Taylor Olson, Juliet Romeo, and Radha Mehta.
Unstoppable Features
DARUMA: Daruma follows PATRICK (wheelchair user) who discovers he has a four-year-old daughter from a one-night stand years ago. He agrees to take her and becomes the beneficiary of her mother’s life insurance policy, but soon discovers he’s not fit to parent and that she’d do better living with her maternal grandparents on the East Coast. Unable to drive and reluctant to fly for fear of damaging his chair, Patrick enlists the help of his cantankerous neighbor ROBERT (double amputee) to drive them. Along the way, they discover the meaning of self-sacrifice, forgiveness and what it truly means to be a family. Daruma is a heart-warming tale of how to pick yourself up and move forward in life when it seems impossible. DARUMA has been lauded for its authenticity and is the first known feature film to star two leads with disabilities in a narrative not about overcoming a disability.
Good Bad Things: Danny, a young man with muscular dystrophy who is disillusioned by failed relationships, steps out of his comfort zone and into the world of online dating. An unexpected match with Madi, an enigmatic photographer, challenges him to be vulnerable and sparks a profound journey of self-acceptance, discovering the extraordinary beauty of his unique body.
Leilani’s Fortune: Leilani’s Fortune is an intimate journey that follows the blossoming career of queer, Ethiopian-Eritrean artist, Witch Prophet. After a decade of struggling as an independent artist, she is finally getting the validation and support she needs to create the album of her prophecies. Canada boasts some of the biggest names in music including Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, and Drake. With her hypnotic harmonies and genre bending sound, she is poised to shape the next era of global Canadian artists.
Look At Me: Look At Me is a fictional autobiography about Taylor, a deeply insecure, socially performative, bisexual actor struggling with bulimia. Taylor searches endlessly for validation on his journey to find someone who truly loves and sees him, only to embark on an unwitting journey of self-love in the midst of his eating disorder relapse.
NINA is an ATHLETE: Wheelchair badminton champion, Nina Gorodetsky, finally has a chance to make it to the Paralympics. However, she is negotiating a ticking biological clock both as an athlete and as a woman. What would she be willing to sacrifice to realize her Olympic dream?
Unstoppable Shorts
A Perfect Morning Situation: In this animated surreal musical, Mino, an anthropomorphic goat strives to achieve the perfect morning routine, but has to battle his internal critics, anxiety, and decision paralysis. This short aims to express how ADHD can feel internally, showing the day to day struggle in a visual and comedic tone.
Baby: After witnessing a tragic hit and run car accident involving a pregnant woman, Mikaela, a young woman with Down syndrome, decides to set in motion her life’s goal of having a baby. After falling pregnant with Eric Charles, a fellow resident at her group home, fate intervenes and sets a course for the future of their child.
Baggage: In a world where everyone brings their Baggage to the table in the form of actual suitcases, a blind date goes awry.
DOSH: Karishma, hard-of-hearing, finds her son out of bed one late night swimming with her undiagnosed bipolar husband, Ram. Concerned, she clocks this as another one of Ram’s recent unpredictable behaviors. Against Ram’s wishes, Karishma decides to secretly speak up and seek help from her visiting mother-in-law, Shilpa, during her sister-in-law’s pre-wedding ceremony. But just like Ram, Shilpa quickly denies, dismisses and even blames Karishma for his condition. Ram confronts Karishma. When Ram’s new episode leads to the near death of their son in a drowning, Karishma finally stands her ground to protect her family and help Ram seek the help he so needs.
Hair or No Hair: Bel Davis, a young Black woman and former model, hides her hair loss with a wig, feeling shame and embarrassment over her baldness. Working as a librarian, she lives a reclusive life, shunning public attention. One day, she forgets her alopecia medication and collapses, her wig coming off in the process. Despite feeling exposed, a young girl with short hair helps her and encourages her to let go of societal expectations. Feeling empowered, Bel decides to go out without her wig, only to run into her appearance-obsessed ex-modeling agent, leaving her defeated once again. However, her spirits lift upon encountering a confident bald Black woman who exudes self-acceptance. Inspired by this woman, Bel begins to open up to the idea of living her life without hiding behind a wig, embracing her true self and finding the courage to live proudly…bald.
Legend of El Cucuy: “Legend of El Cucuy” is a cautionary tale. Laura and her husband Carlos are permissive parents, and their choice to raise their daughter Isabel without discipline has resulted in a very rude, disobedient child. Carlos is having doubts about their behavioral strategy, but Laura is determined to make different choices from their parents. Against his better judgment, Carlos tells Laura about El Cucuy’s origins, and that same night, El Cucuy pays the family a visit.
Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World: In the heartwarming short documentary, “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World”, we are introduced to a remarkable young girl whose spirit and determination defy all expectations. Makayla, a black teenage girl, has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal. However, her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter’s potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla’s inner world.
PU EKAW TNOD: A couple watching a horror film about a strangely familiar basement realise they’re dreaming when they suddenly find themselves in the very same basement. And that’s when it sees them… it knows they shouldn’t be awake… Despite trying to prevent getting swept up in the same events of the movie, they find their options narrowing as the dream goes on, and as they get closer to the terrifying thing that’s been waiting for them all this time. The film is an experimental B movie that uses repetition, AI animation and subliminal sounds to recreate the terrifying feeling of being trapped in a dream. It was made with love by a small team and even smaller budget in a haunted building.
Saving Art: Instead of telling his newly diagnosed five-year-old son that he has Leukaemia; Brian tells Arthur that the chemotherapy will give him superpowers. In a battle to keep them both positive, Brian is haunted by his lie as he struggles to find hope. As we witness the innocence of the children in the ward believing the lies their parents tell them, we also see how haunted the parents become. This is a chilling look at how adults project fears of cancer onto children and how fighting the darkness with joy and happiness can also be a form of medicine. Inspired by true events.
Smash or Pass: After being dumped by her long-term boyfriend, Ariel tries app dating for the very first time.
This Body Is A Shell: Wild souls push through strange terrain and desolate spaces to confront their visage, only to rediscover their worthiness and power. A reminder that we are souls housed in a temporary shell.
Young People, Old People & Nothing in Between: 7-year-old Juice has one mission this year: to help Grandma Lovely retain as many memories as possible in order to halt the onset of her early dementia. Slowly, grandma begins to change her demeanor. She rages when she can’t find her favorite cup and keeps mistaking Juice for her own sister. One day, Grandma disappears and Juice must find her, leading her to sacrifice the memory she holds most dear to bring her best friend home.
Ensuring an Accessible Festival
All Slamdance Unstoppable films will be screened with captions. Slamdance will provide ASL interpreters for Unstoppable panels and Q&As after Unstoppable screenings at The Yarrow Hotel in Park City. The University of Utah Center for Disability & Access will be providing ASL interpreters for Unstoppable panels and Q&As after Unstoppable screenings at the University in Salt Lake City. Both locations are accessible for wheelchair users. For additional questions, the Slamdance Accessibility Coordinator, Brittney Thaxton, is available at accessibility@slamdance.com.
