If you live in California, or are considering an accessible road trip to the Golden State, be sure to add Superfest 2015 to your itinerary. The longest running festival of its kind, Superfest features national and international films with a focus on disability culture.
The History
Premiering in the 1970s, Superfest: International Disability Film Festival is held in the San Francisco Bay Area annually and continues to be a running success today. The event includes a showcase of juried films celebrating cutting-edge cinema that features a genuine look at the disability world and its many moving parts.
The Films
Each year, talented filmmakers submit their best work to Superfest in hopes of raising awareness of disability topics, as well as earning deserved recognition. In order to be considered, films must focus on disability, feature a prominent character with a disability, or be written or produced by a person with a disability. The films do not pity, pedestal, or stereotype anyone with a disability, and represent diversity while offering unique perspectives on life with a disability. Last year’s Best of Festival winner, The Interviewer, was a 13-minute feature brought to life by 12 people living with intellectual disabilities, mentored by industry professionals to make a short film which has now won over 30 international awards.
The Competition
The Superfest panel of judges is comprised of film connoisseurs, disability scholars, and disabled community organizers. The submitted films are pre-screened by the staff, so judges only receive the films that meet the competition criteria. The credo of Superfest is “art takes risks,” so they look for unforgettable work that exemplifies true artistry, technical competence, and films that strengthen disability culture. The content must be suitable for all audiences and exude innovation.
Although anyone can submit their film to the competition and be awarded across a variety of categories, the Disabled Filmmaker award is only awarded to those writers or producers who have a disability.
A success year after year, Superfest attendees say this event is an experience you don’t want to miss. This year, Superfest will make its mark this year in the evening of November 14 at the SF LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and all day at the Contemporary Jewish Museum on Sunday, November 15.
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