With one-in-five people having a disability in the U.S. today, lack of representation—just 2.2 percent of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2023—means that millions of people are unable to see themselves reflected in media. The DC/DOX ’25 Film Festival, taking place June 12-15, is highlighting several disability-inclusive films. DC/DOX is a vibrant documentary [click to continue...]
The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), taking place June 16-22, is highlighting several disability-inclusive films. Chaired by Academy Award winner Geena Davis, BFF champions women and diverse voices According to festival programmers, 12% of the films in the competition categories have a director who identifies as disabled. In addition, 17% of these films include a lead [click to continue...]
“I know my words carry power.” SPEAK. follows five high school students as they prepare and compete in one of the world’s largest public speaking competitions. Viewers learn the stories of Noor, Noah, Sam, Mfaz, and Esther, the two-time reigning national champion in the Oratory division. SPEAK. is at times electric and at others contemplative, [click to continue...]
“Don’t worry. It’s gonna be nice, David.” The feature film Caravan opens with an out-of-focus shot, first trained on the bright overhead sun, then panning to the glimmering sea below. Gentle ambient music accompanies the soft sound of waves splashing onto the shore. Still focused on this shot, viewers hear the above words—the opening dialogue [click to continue...]
Inspired by personal experience, The Main Trilogy Writer and Director Abigail Bruley snapshots one person’s attempt to return to life as she knew it before acquiring a disability. “[A]t first, I thought that I was documenting, but really, as it turned out, I was, like, mythologizing,” Bruley said in an interview with Disability Belongs™. “I [click to continue...]
Viewers may think they know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. However, writer/director Regan Linton has reimagined this classic tale in a new short film as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Reframed: Next Gen Narratives program. In this series, six filmmakers adapted classic movies through a contemporary lens, tackling modern-day issues surrounding identity. Episode [click to continue...]
In Sūnna (Hindi for listen), Radha Mehta invites the audience into a contemplative and atmospheric film that recognizes sound and silence as forces that can shape identity and belonging. It follows Lakshmi, a young Indian girl who experiences sudden hearing loss just as she is about to perform a cherished religious song. The film deftly [click to continue...]
Watching “Forward Thinking” feels like peering into an off-kilter, adjacent reality. The film opens on a crowded bulletin board, with a tan-colored flyer sitting front and center of the frame. The flyer, written using friendly Comic Sans, is titled “Coffee with Cops,” and offers the chance to meet with officers at a local park “at [click to continue...]
In the short film “At See,” Director Serena Dykman offers a glimpse into inclusion by taking viewers aboard an All Paws on Deck cruise to the Dominican Republic with more than 50 guide dogs and their partners. This opportunity was organized by the non-profit organization, All Paws On Deck, to provide an independent cruise experience [click to continue...]
In the new short film “BABKA,” Director Serena Dykman presents a narrative that weaves together themes of identity, culture, and passion. The film centers on Moishe, a blind Orthodox Jewish baker who lives in the heart of Hasidic Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After recently losing his sight, Moishe is learning to navigate a new way of life [click to continue...]
