A New Disability Film Festival Sprouts in New York City
By Michele Morgan (michele@rehab-international.org)
An impressive array of independent shorts, documentaries and animations kicked off the First Annual Sprout Film Festival, a developmental disabilities film festival, held in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The goal of the festival, to raise the profile of people with disabilities as subjects and performers in television and film by bringing together high quality films and videos done by and with people with developmental disabilities, was met, as the festival remained crowded throughout the day.

The films, which included both international and domestic selections, ranged from a three minute visual poetry piece, "My Childhood Song," written and filmed by a Finnish women with Down Syndrome, to "Behind the Glass Door: Hannah's Story," a 50 minute documentary on the struggles one family faces in reaching their child with Autism.

"The Lifetime of Elvis Presley," a short from Scotland by artists with autistic spectrum disorders, was met with peals of laughter from the audience as a cartoon Elvis shook and sang his way through an imaginary day. Another humorous short, "My Darling," a five-minute narrative from Finland, tells the story of a young man forced to choose between his love for his girlfriend and his love for a hot dog - needless to say, his stomach wins out.

The "Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown," an American documentary, explores the life of Marni and Kris, a married couple with developmental disabilities who live and work in New York City. They share the struggles and joys of daily life while dealing with their own frustrated ambitions and other peoples' prejudices with insight, wisdom and humor.

By encouraging the involvement of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of film making, from writing and camera work to acting and animating, the Sprout Festival manages to create an "enjoyable and enlightening experience that [helps] breakdown stereotypes, [promotes] a greater acceptance of differences and awareness of similarities" and presents "films of artistry and intellect."

This new festival is just one of many programs Sprout, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation, has to offer. Founded in 1979 by Anthony Di Salvo, Sprout is well known for its travel and recreation programs for people with intellectual impairments.

Sprout's Make-A-Movie Program gives people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to be part of a creative process by starring in and assisting in the production of videos. Mr. Di Salvo a self-taught producer and director, started the program in 1994 to give voice to a population often overlooked as well as to boost the self-esteem of the participants. Three of the shorts he directed were shown at the festival.

Other programs Sprout runs include trips to Florida, Hawaii, Bahamas and many other destinations, as well as several Sproutstock Festivals, weekends filled with music, food, carnival games and entertainment. Club Sprout offers a camp experience for participants with waterside activities, arts, crafts, movies and nature walks, and slower paced trips are also offered for participants who require greater assistance.

Sprout works to enhance the mobility, self-confidence and socialization of participants through community-based activities. To contact Sprout, write to: 893 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10025, or call 1-888-222-9575. Visit their website at www.gosprout.org.