New York City – Join the Disabilities Network of NYC and ConnecTV at “disTHIS!” at the launch of our new monthly film series devoted to demystifying disability on Wednesday, April 5 at the ConnecTV studios at DCTV, 87 Lafayette St (between Walker and White), New York, NY 10013 6:30 to 9pm. Film starts promptly at 7pm.
The disTHIS! film series will showcase innovative narrative, shorts, documentary and feature films with disability themes beyond the tragic/heroic cliches moviegoers have come to expect.
April 5 Screening: Aaltra
Critically acclaimed, irreverent wheelchair road movie by comedians Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern, who wrote, directed, and co-star, Aaltra shows a distinct flair for understated physical comedy and defiantly non-PC humor.
Winner of numerous awards including the Fipresci Prize, London Film Festival and an official selection at both the Tribeca and Telluride Film Festivals. 92 minutes.
Aaltra will be presented in French with English subtitles and is suitable those who are deaf or have hearing impairments. Presented through a special arrangement with Film Movement.
“Forget everything you’ve seen before,” said Lawrence Carter-Long, curator of the film series and the Network Coordinator of the Disabilities Network of NYC – a nonprofit organization working for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of Big Apple life.
“We won’t subject viewers to another hokey tearjerker or movie of the week melodrama with manipulative violin music. True to the spirit of Academy award nominee “Murderball” the disTHIS! film series will be funny, sexy, always provocative.
This is disability cinema through a whole new lens.”
“Movies about disability have been more concerned about diagnosis than they have with character development, storytelling or innovation for far too long,” continues Asher Dorlester of ConnecTV, a television production training program for people with disabilities cosponsoring the series.
“ConnectTV’s training program for television and independent film producers and our hosting of disTHIS! with DNNYC is our way of helping correct that. We hope you’ll be as thrilled watching these films as we are to be co-presenting them.”
Refreshments will be served and the space is wheelchair accessible. All disTHIS! movies, talkback sessions and related events are free and open to the public. Donations accepted.
For more information or to RSVP, please call Lawrence at 212.251.4092.