World Premiere: SEW ADAPTIVE

SEW ADAPTIVE: A DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING ADAPTIVE FASHION (2019) is an unrated independent documentary and has a run time of 28 minutes. This film will screen at Cinema Touching Disability Saturday, October 19, 2019. Narrative Description provided by Art Spark Texas; ASL Interpretation provided by Communication by Hand.

Adaptive fashion is having a moment, as retail stores across the country are venturing into clothing designed specifically for people with disabilities. With our Focus on Adaptive Fashion this year, CTDFF is thrilled to welcome some essential players in the adaptive fashion movementRunway of Dreams and Disability Fashion Stylist Stephanie Thomas—as well as debut designs from our own CTDFF Adaptive Fashion Challenge!

When we got to work on organizing our Challenge, it didn't take long to realize we were on to something big. For our models and designers, fashion isn't just about looking and feeling good. It's about self-direction and creating the kind of world you want to live and move around in. It can even be resistance against ableist narratives and oppressive public policy.

On a bright residential street corner, woman in a sit-down bike and a man in a power chair with video camera rig smile excitedly at the camera. He's giving the shaka sign.So we documented the entire Challenge on film, thanks to the participation of a local, all-volunteer film crew! On Saturday night, please join us for the World Premiere of SEW ADAPTIVE: A DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING ADAPTIVE FASHION! The film will explore in depth each of the stories of our CTDFF Adaptive Fashion Challenge models—Tanya, Josselyn, Marisa, Carol, and Mimi—as they tackle a clothing-related issue with Austin-based Ronkita Design and UTMB MakerHealth Space Engineer, Dr. Aisen Chacin.

Right, Mimi and Director of Photography Armando wrap up a shoot.

More about the Challenge

Meet the film crew

A young woman in black glasses smiles broadly at the camera.Jennifer Bracy (Director) moved to Austin from her hometown of Corpus Christi in 2017 to accept an internship with the Austin Film Society. Shortly after beginning her role there, Jennifer found CTD, volunteering part-time with Cinema Touching Disability and incorporating her knowledge of the industry. In 2019, Jennifer joined the CTD team as a Development Specialist, the first such position on CTD's staff. In her development role, she does research, writes grants, and promotes CTD through events, while continuing to assist with CTDFF As a people-person, Jennifer says the best part about her job is getting to know others, learning their stories, and helping them however she can. She greatly enjoys working to promote diversity and inclusion through the cinematic arts. Jennifer is also an independent film producer and serves as a screener for Transform Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival. As a Texas native, she finds it extremely important to continue the film efforts of the state through festival support and local Austin film initiatives. Currently, she is working on independent short LAS VIRGENES with Pomegranate Studios. Learn more about Jennifer's work as Producer & Production Manager at Pomegranate Productions and Producer & Production Manager at Produce Microcinema. Follow her on Instagram @jenja_b.

 

In a shady wooded area, a man with sunglasses sitting in a power chair smiles at the camera.Originally from Dallas, Armando Martinez (Director of Photography) was raised as an Austinite for most of his life. Born with the diagnosis Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenital, his growth was stunted from a young age, and he required walkers, braces, and a wheelchair to maneuver long distances. Wanting to stand out in a way that didn’t always focus on his disability, he ventured to do many things, primarily focusing on performance art. Utilizing these skills, he found he had a niche of engaging an audience through the art of magic/illusion. During his college years, Armando obtained video recording equipment in hopes to create a Youtube channel focusing on his impact through magic. Through interning at the Austin School of Film, executive director Anne Kelley saw he had aptitude for writing, and further sought out his skills for a couple of grant writing projects. During this time, Armando obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Family and Child Development. As the years of shooting and college went by, he mastered the art of filmmaking without official training or courses. He currently lives in Austin and booking more projects with various non- profits and local companies. Follow Armando on Facebook @Armando.M.Martinez and Instagram @m4productions.

 

Against an earthy yellow background, a woman smiles off the camera.

 

Emily Andujar (Production Assistant) is a native Texan with a background in production design and graphic design. This is her second year working with Cinema Touching Disability. In 2018, she created the 15th anniversary edition of the CTDFF logo.

 

 

A smiling woman stands at a three-quarter angle to the camera, in front of a wall with multi-colored wooden shingles.

 

Tori Galatro (Production Assistant) is a technical writer and film nerd. She previously volunteered for the Austin Film Festival and interned at the Austin Film Society. This is her second year volunteering for the Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival. She loves attending film events around Austin and supporting her friends on their projects.

 

Close up of a man with glasses looking just off screen.

 

Joel Watts (Camera Op) is a fixture in the Austin film scene, serving drinks at two of Austin premier independent cinemas. A writer, director and editor in his own right, Joel has made message driven short films for the Austin Metro Drug-free Coalition Media Project, as well as his own comedic short film NEGOTIATIONS. Joel also edits special event trailers for both Austin Film Society Cinema and Violet Crown Cinema. Watch NEGOTIATIONS on YouTube.

Three-quarter view of a woman looking up toward the corner of the frame.

 

Deborah Valcin (Camera Op) is a Haitian filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. Her passion for her home country of Haiti drives her to bring to light unique stories centered around the Haitian narrative and the Haitian Diaspora. Through film and photography, she hopes to achieve a presentation of Haiti and its people as a multi-dimensional and complex culture that can be found around the world. She also hopes to bring more stories centering disabilities to the forefront; especially stories from her home country.

 

Against a bright red background, a woman wearing a bright red sweater looks up to smile at the camera.Diana Duran (Camera Op) was born in Merida-Venezuela, studied Journalism at the Cecilio Acosta Catholic University, and obtained her bachelor's degree in 2015. In October 2015, she moved to the US to improve her professional photography and audiovisual media, and then returned to Venezuela and create her own production company, Akasha Productions. Due to the political situation in her country, she returned to the United States to achieve hers goals in international production. Diana gained experience in her native Venezuela in the production of advertising and commercial spots and also had the opportunity to carry out a TV program, "Legacy." She is working on her first movie where she will show the situation facing a Venezuelan immigrant.

 

Taylor Romeguera (Camera Op) is a graduate of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and professor of video production at Lone Star College in Houston,Texas.

Against an out of focus background of light green trees, a woman with a hand under her chin smiles at the camera.

 

 

Michelle Redden (Camera Op) is an artist from Austin, Texas. She is most excited by the collaborative and diverse storytelling process that filmmaking offers. She is also a screener for Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival.

 

In a mirrored room with exercise bikes, a man with headphones around his neck looks up as though surprised by the camera.

 

 

Steven Montmaneix (Audio/ Boom Op) received his Film & Electronic Arts degree at Long Beach State University where he practiced working in audio. He has served as the podcast editor of Debt to Cinema and as the Audio Engineer at OC Digital studio. 

 

Against an unlit background, a woman hold her chin in her hand and raises an eyebrow pointedly at the camera.

 

Dénika Soria Jiménez (Audio/ Boom Op) graduated from Texas A&M in May 2017 with a University Studies Business degree with minors in Music and Film Studies. She moved to Austin in August of 2017 hoping to find a new filmmaking community and eventually ended up finding an opportunity with the Austin Film Society through their youth education Film Club program. She has been in the program since then and more recently became an intern for AFS. She is currently trying to edit some projects and get more production experience, wherever it may be, to help her grow as a filmmaker.

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