2011 Short Film Competition
Emerging Division
1st Place (Tie): Let Me Finish (dir. Alex Murphy)
Let Me Finish shares the personal experiences of Evan, Behnaz, and Joy -- three life-long stutterers living in Austin, Texas. Through their compelling interviews, their group meetings at the National Stuttering Association Austin chapter, and expert testimony from leading UT Speech Language Pathologist Dr. Courtney Byrd, the documentary explores the physical and psychological effects of stuttering, dispels commonly held myths perpetuated by the media, and informs friends, family and others how they can help make communication a little easier for stutterers in their own lives. View Let Me Finish
1st Place (Tie): When a Line of Light Shines (dir. Shahriar Pourseyedian)
A documentary about two children with severe disabilities who live in Iran. One of them is deaf, and the other has a severe mobility impairment.
2nd Place: Performance of Drowning (dir. Jeanette Castillo)
On a trip to 'Crippled Children's Camp' Terry Galloway falls for the deep end swimming instructor, nearly drowning as she learns to perform her newly-discovered queer, disabled identity. View Performance of Drowning
Scholastic Division
1st Place: No Pity (dir. Drew Goldsmith)
Autism disability self-advocate's empowered response to our culture's pity for the disabled. View No Pity
2nd Place: Dedicated to Jesse Isabelle (dir. Eric Fox)
Jesse Isabelle and Daniel Dintzner were best friends at Perkins School for the Blind. Both had struggled in their previous school, but found a home at Perkins. They bonded over their love of swimming, the Red Sox, and were nearly inseparable. When Jesse suddenly passed away, Daniel tries to find a way to keep his memory alive. This short film is about the enduring power of friendship, regardless of ability. View Dedicated to Jesse Isabelle
3rd Place: The Kingsmen (dir. Danny Benrey)
A Documentary about an autistic rock band called The Kingsmen.
Film Fest Tickets
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Contact the Film Festival
Contact: Laura Perna
Phone: (512) 478-3366 ext. 305
Email: filmfest@txdisabilities.org