Maricarmen Graue is a cello player, music teacher, writer, and marathon runner. Blind and living alone, she subverts expectations with a biting sense of humor and a fierce attitude. Swaying between laughter and a bare-boned meditation on the act of living, this poignant and lyrical documentary navigates the trials and triumphs of a tenacious woman.
Chuo must navigate the challenges of early adulthood with Down Syndrome as he seeks to build a life of independence from his troubled father. Long separated by an ocean of silence and shame, will the two men be able to share a common future?
WINNER OF THE SANDRA CARPENTER MEMORIAL STUDENT FILM AWARD 2021
In this incisive exploration of language, meaning and self-expression, filmmaker Rowan Duncan probes the tangled network of connotations surrounding autism and what it means to fit in or stand apart.
Strange is an autobiographical story told in a visual journal style; a glimpse into an autistic author’s life exploring friendship, trials and the use of unique coping strategies.
Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida’s revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe. Moments in the lives of each of the characters are linked by the journey of a young Japanese boy through an epic landscape; narrated passages from Naoki’s writing reflect on what his autism means to him and others, how his perception of the world differs, and why he acts in the way he does: the reason he jumps. The film distils these elements into a sensually rich tapestry that leads us to Naoki’s core message: not being able to speak does not mean there is nothing to say.
In Seeing the Unseen, directors Kristján Kristjánsson and Bjarney Lúðvíksdóttir examine the underrepresentation of women in the clinical diagnoses of Autism in Iceland. Through interviews with prominent healthcare practitioners and advocates, diagnostic and policy disparities are exposed. A number of Autistic women and their families discuss how these inequities impact their lives and the power of proper diagnosis, support, and community.
Co-presented by community partners Autism Ontario, Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival
This year’s inaugural winner of the Sandra Carpenter ReelAbilities Toronto Film Festival Student Film Award, From My Side of the Spectrum invites us all into director Aiden Lee’s vibrant artistic world. Lee uses his talent and creativity to support other young people through art and self-expression, all while celebrating the beauty of this diverse world.
Co-presented by community partners Autism Ontario, Holland-Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Jovan, an imaginative 10 year old with cerebral palsy embarks on a fantastical adventure with his unlikely new friend, the rambunctious Milica, who is on a mission to rescue her father from an evil witch. Infused with humour and magic realism, this poignant debut feature from Rasko Miljkovic is about growing up and finding the superhero within.
Co-presented by community partners Holland-Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Variety Ontario
On the coast of Kenya, people with disabilities are often shunned and viewed as cursed. Kupenda follows the story of three determined teenagers set out to challenge their community’s long-held stigma and climb Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Co-presented by community partners JAYU’s Human Rights Film Festival and Variety Ontario
Sometimes the idea of intergalactic adventure can seem easier than exposing yourself a new love interest. In his short and sweet autobiographical film, Christopher Cosgrove navigates the vulnerability of dating for the first time after acquiring a colostomy bag.
Presented by community partner Inside Out Film Festival
