Feature Films

 

Little Devil

Dir. Max Barber

 

A troublesome, disabled fag-hag absconds to London to find love and opportunity. Life deals her some unexpected twists when she peddles drugs to the queer community, and forms an unorthodox relationship with a washed-up male escort.

 

Propelled

Dir. Suellen Maunder

 

Coming of age is a tricky business, especially when you’re on wheels and life keeps throwing roadblocks at you. Take a ride and be transformed. The differences may not be what they seem.

 

Unsound

Dir. Darious Britt

 

An ambitious, young filmmaker must battle his mother’s mental illness and his worst fears to save her from herself and reclaim his life.

 

Archaeology of a Woman

Dir. Sharon Greytak

 

Stay then Go

Dir. Shelli Ainsworth

 

In a hospital waiting room, a mother reviews her experience raising her son who has Autism. This leads to a startling discovery, which alters their course forever.

 

La Navaja de Don Juan

Dir. Tom Sanchez

 

The fate of an arm wrestling match leads two rivaling brothers from the barrio across the tacks to a house party where the young one hopes to lose his virginity.

 

When Life Keeps Getting in the Way

Dir. Lili Matta

 

A dramadey about a dysfunctional woman who attempts to pick up the pieces of a broken past, while struggling with an unstable present in Los Angeles … where relationships are hard to find.

 

The Court of Shards

Dir. Jan Eilhardt

 

In this experimental drama, two disabled women fight in their own way for independence from an overpowering family.

 

What it Was

Dir. Daniel Armando

 

An old flame is reignited and a new desire is awakened when Hollywood actress, Adina Spencer, returns to New York where she is forced to face her sexual past, confront her present identity, and admit her true love.

 

Bury My Heart with Tonawanda

Dir. Gary Sundown

 

A historical film, Bury My Heart with Tonawanda tells the story of boy with Downs Syndrome who is rejected by his own family but accepted by the Tonawanda Seneca Nation.

 

 

Documentary Films

 

Fagbug Nation

Dir. Erin Davies

 

We go behind the wheel of the once vandalized, now famous, “Fagbug”. Director Erin Davies has her mind set on getting the car to all 50 states, Hawaii and Alaska being the final two.

 

You Have His Eyes

Dir. Christopher Thomas Wilson

 

In each family a story is playing itself out. All its characters affected, for better or worse…

 

@Home

Dir. Susanne Suffredin

 

Making homelessness visible. One story at a time.

 

I’m Still Here Smiling Through the Storms

Dir. Ruby Taylor

 

A traumatic brain injury survivor provides an honest account of the impact that brain injuries incur. This gripping documentary takes the viewer into a situation that most have only heard about.

 

Ruthie & Connie: Every Room in the House

Dir. Deborah Dickson

 

They kissed, came out, sued NYC for domestic partner benefits – and won! Now, the great grandmothers of the marriage equality movement FINALLY get married!

 

Mobile in Black and White

Dir. Robert Gray

 

A hard look at the ways racism continues to pervade the structures and institutions of a supposedly post-racial world.

 

One: A Story of Love and Equality

Dir. Becca Roth

 

In the months leading up to the vote on gay marriage in North Carolina, a lesbian couple seeks to understand the personal stories of people on both sides of the vote, with the desire to relate as human beings.

 

Let the Record Show

Dir. Demetrëa Dewald

 

When New York City is devastated by an unthinkable plague, an indifferent nation turns a blind eye. With the body count rising, artists ban together to save the lives of their friends, and open the eyes of America.

 

We Weren’t Given Anything for Free: The Story of an Italian Partisan

Dir. Eric Esser

 

A portrait of the former partisan, Annita Malavasi, one of the few female commanders in the Italian resistance during the Second World War.

 

Share My Kingdom

Dir. John Grod

 

A thoughtful look at the lives and the hauntingly beautiful art created by three disabled artists as they struggle to pursue their obsessions and live in a society intent on throwing  road blocks in thier paths.

 

Trace Amounts

Dir. Eric Gladen

 

Fading Away

Dir. Christopher H. K. Lee

 

The recollections of Korean War survivors are vividly captured in this powerful documentary surrounding the horrors of the time.

 

Walk On

Dir. Mark Bashian

 

A disabled 21-year-old who was born HIV Positive trains for an AIDS walk while educating others about HIV and disabilities with the help of a Quadriplegic Comic, an Amputee Sprinter, and a Purple Heart Veteran.

 

 

 

Youth In Media

 

Superdate

 Dir. Sasha Fox

 

Two teens almost have their first date thwarted because of their competing loyalties to opposing super heroes. 

 

 

Web Series

 

Miss Guidance

Dirs. Matthew Breault & Lea Dizon

 

Sometimes the best advice to take is your own.

Documentary

Short Subject

 

New Kentucky Home

Dir. Elijah McKenzie

 

Albinos

Dir. Pepo Ruiz

 

Throughout different testimonies, we understand what it means to be albino in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

From Davis to Montgomery and Back Again

Dirs. Ben Bruening & D. H. Martin

 

A SynapTic Adventure: Tourettes and Beyond

Dir. Stephen Dijoseph

 

 A humorous and insightful journey through the mind of a performance artist who grew up, lives, and thrives with Tourette's Syndrome. 

 

Kisses in Zocalo

Dir. Maida Hals

 

Living in a time where we are distinguished by color, religion, and nationality, it is beautiful despite these differences that there is a powerful similarity that unites us all. The language of love: A kiss.

 

Strange Fruit

Dir. Rev. Elizabeth Myer Boulton

 

Terror into poetry, hatred into protest, heartbreak into hope - "Strange Fruit" calls everyone to write new songs to help right new wrongs. 

 

We are Somebody

Dir. Reid H. Bangert

 

A collection of stories written by the youth who live in some of Kansas City's toughest neighborhoods. 

 

One Question

Dir. Anthony Di Salvo

 

35 people with Intellectual Disabilities are asked: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?

 

Being Stavros

Dir. Jonothan McLeod

 

A story about one man’s unbreakable spirit, “Being Stavros” is a tale of triumph, heartbreak and how to wear your underpants.

 

Modify to Fit

Dir. Patrick Murphy

 

Kendra Bailey, a below-the-elbow amputee, describes the modifications she makes to succeed in both the sport world and everyday life.

 

 

College Short Subject

 

Frank and Azalee Austin

Dir. Zachary Kerschberg

 

Rot

Dir. Ruby Railey

 

Margot traverses the emotional landscape of her tumultuous parental relationship, as she attempts to make sense of the illness that is claiming her father.

 

 

Being There

Dir. Ben Hakim

 

A young man’s quest for love exposes him to an experience he may not be ready for.

 

Volti Famillari

Dir. Jake Zappia

 

Daniela faces the responsibility of caring for her Alzheimer’s affected grandfather, despite the fact that he no longer remembers her.

 

Between Us

Dir. Ping-Wen Wang

 

In the midst of a passionate affair with a married woman, art teacher Ariel must choose between sating her sexual desires, or living an open life free of broken promises.

 

What am I Doing Here?

Dir. Wahid ibn Reza

 

A Bangladeshi writer chases the great American Dream without realizing the sacrifices he is making in the process.

 

Sensei

Dir. Ora DeKornfeld

 

Cherry Pop

Dir. Assaad Yacoub

 

Cherry Pop is a drag review club full of drama, chaos, and an assortment of talented performers.

 

Death of a Wizard

Dir. Edward Varnie

 

During the social unrest of the 1960s, three boys take matters into their own hands when they plan to take down the Grand Wizard living in their small southern town.

 

No One But Lydia

Dir. Rob Richert

 

A scheming teenager is determined to win back the heart of his ex-girlfriend, Lydia. He will need the help of his stoner friends to enact an elaborate heist in the name of sincere, albeit misguided, love.  

 

Unveiled

Dir. Courtney Harmstone

 

At her first spin-the-bottle party, Muslim-American teenager Mira bravely removes her veil to fit in. But is that what she really wants?

 

Goal Ball

Dir. Peter Monahan

 

Tala

Dir. Pier-Philippe Chevigny

 

A young Filipino domestic worker receives an unexpected phone call on the job, which puts her at great risk of being fired.

 

God by the Neck

Dir. José Trigueiros

 

8-year-old Pablo has an invitation to a very special, but forbidden, birthday party. It’s Sunday, and for the first time, Pablo is going on a door-to-door preaching mission with his mother.

 

Stay

Dir. Jackson Kroopf

 

After losing her first job, a young, black lawyer hides in her apartment, attempting to keep her failure to herself.

 

 

High School

Short Subject

 

Streetlight Named Fear

Dir. Ciara Boniface

 

A girl confides in her best friend on how she witnessed the disappearance of her sister … in plain sight.

 

Surprise Party

Dir. Ben Morris

 

The camera always lies.

 

Carrie’s Wish

Dir. Maria Alvarez

 

A sister finds a way to cope with the death of her sibling by completing a summer bucket-list.

 

Bookstore

Dir. Alexander Haney

 

Tara, a teenager who dreams of a successful future in business, manages the school bookstore for one day. But will preoccupied employees and the craziness of a bookstore get in the way of her ambitions?

 

Momentum

Dir. Alexander Bergmann

 

Two young people come together in an unexpected situation in their lives.

 

Soup

Dir. Andrea Cuba

 

Butter

Dir. Luka Joncich

 

The secrets of the underground world of artificial food manufacturers are uncovered.

 

Regione Caecorum

Dir. Drew Goldsmith

 

An evening of speed-dating turns the tables on ability – and disability.

 

Zenaida

Dir. Alec Cano

He Don’t Make Junk

Dir. Richard Porter

 

After the death of his mother, lonely outcast Isaiah learns that family is more than blood.

 

A Quest for Peace: Nonviolence Among Religions

Dir. Matthew J. Evans

 

Through discussion with influential religious leaders, Matthew J. Evans provides powerful lessons about nonviolence, acceptance, and cultural understanding.

 

 

Short Films

 

Love Escapes Us

Dir. Craig Tovey

 

Powerful Words

Dir. Erahm Christopher

 

A critical light is shed on the power of words.

 

A Super Secret

Dir. Gabrielle Dennis

 

In a time where privacy no longer exists over the Internet, two sisters are unaware that their Skype call is being monitored. But those who monitor are unaware of the shocking secret they will soon discover.

 

Closed Caption

Dir. Jennifer Kassabian

 

Happy Birthday

Dir. Richard Heredia-Arriaga

 

A short drama that chronicles the journey of Luis, a young man who after burning all of his bridges, attempts to find redemption while visiting his brother on his birthday.

 

Giri

 Dir. Daryn Wakasa

 

ln a post-modern, dystopian world where guns and ammunition have been outlawed, a young woman struggles to find balance in her life as she raises her 6-year-old daughter while working as a contract killer. 

 

 

Lean

Dir. Kevin O’Neill

 

Children do not see race. Love does not see color.

 

Lame Lambs

Dir. Yunus Yidirim

 

The Eulogy of Ivy O’Connor

Dir. Shervin Youssefian

 

Why would Ivy O'Connor take her own life? They mystery of her death reveals a heartbreaking reality of the dangers that lurk in the hallways of our schools.

 

 

The End is Quiet and Dark

Dir. Tajreen Hedayet

 

Seuls

Dir. Sami Khadraoui

 

Two young men spend a few days in a chalet, when they discover a dark presence is haunting the place.

 

Windy

Dir. Huieun Park

 

Things left behind after the loss of a loved one.

 

Juliette

Dir. Maud Lazzerini

 

Juliette, a beautiful and successful lawyer, refuses to enter a cabaret, revealing her inner trouble…

 

Dragon’s Throat

Dir. Justin Galindo

 

An insecure drug addict’s source of income is kidnapping women and selling them to Mexican Cartels. Desperate, he attempts to sell his girlfriend to feed his addiction, but is tested to prove his worth.

 

In Sickness and in Health

Dir. Aaron Denius Garcia

 

A young man tells his family he is dying of AIDS. When his father storms off, his partner confronts his dad about marriage. 

 

Copper

Dir. Jack O’Donnell

 

A curious deaf boy’s life is changed when he meets a living statue.

 

A Ginger Sheep

Dir. Rona Soffer

 

Nuni used to be into graffiti, but then she lost her leg. Years later, she meets her first love, who rekindles her passion for the art.

 

Toby and the Runaway Kite

Dir. Dana Stockton

 

Pardon! Who, me?

Dir. Ipek Efe

 

Deniz is trying to resist the system in which everything is about outward appearance. It's hard to be yourself when no one else accepts you. 

 

One in 5

Dir. Zoë Harvey

 

Rita, Shaun, and Charlie have dreams like anybody else, but differences make independence, earning a living, and being treated as equals all the harder to achieve.

 

Mirrorman

Dir. Aidan Duffy

 

A boy born with a mirror for a face becomes an artist and finds love in this modern fable.

 

Edward the Damned

Dir. John Weckworth

 

Dance Off!

Dir. Graham Gall

 

A dance studio spies on its main rival in preparation for a competition, but the other studio anticipates this and pulls a fast one.

 

Punching Walls

Dir.Tessa Treanor

 

 A day in the life of a conflicted 17-year-old as he tries to navigate his way between his friendships and responsibilities at a New York City public school.

 

The Hero Pose

Dir. Mischa Jakupcak

 

A father and daughter discover those precious moments in life when two people are able to pause and connect.

 

Damaged Goods

Dir. Harm Weistra

 

A picture is worth a thousand words, but one word can hurt more than a thousand pictures.

 

Rosita Lopez for President

Dir. Rachel Goldberg

 

A 14-year-old girl runs for President of the United States. As she tries to garner votes, Rosita renews more than just faith in democracy in the people she meets.

 

What If

Dir. Mike Garrick

 

What if you could change your life, would you be prepared for the consequences?

 

Am I Not Your Girl

Dir. Xavery Robin

 

When her parents walk out and a young man fails to comfort her, Lena is left wondering if it’s worth it to get married.

 

Lady of the Night

Dir. Laurent Boileau

 

The annual dinner commemorating the death of Cornelius revives Samuel’s memories, but he has never revealed his homosexuality to Corneilus’ family.

 

Elegy for a Revolutionary

Dir. Paul van Zyl

 

Chuck

Dir. Julius S. DeLaCruz

 

A lonely, depressed man wakes up to find an empty lipstick container in his medicine cabinet. This makes him realize: the source of his happiness is also the cause of his sadness.