Recent Award Winning Disability Films from around the world

In no particular order, here are 25 outstanding disability-themed films, ranging from full length commercial release to independent documentaries to television programs to short public service announcements, that have earned critical acclaim and major awards in the last five years. This list was compiled together with Liane Yasumoto, director of Superfest, annual Berkeley-based International Disability Film Festival, and Barbara Kolucki, specialist in children's media, including films and videos portraying disability.

Full length, released to theatres

1. The Color of Paradise, Iran. At the heart of this provocatively filmed panorama of the raw beauty of Iran's mountains and rural areas is an honest and affecting portrayal of the life of a talented, young blind boy who is working hard to be accepted by his father, family and community.
2. The Station Agent, U.S. This 2003 film succeeds mostly due to a new talent, Peter Dinklage, an actor of short stature, outstanding ensemble acting, and a believable, humorous script. The scenes illustrating discrimination are seamlessly integrated into the story centered on three lonely people who strike up a friendship.
3. Vernacht nach Paris, Germany. This comedy about three residents from a disabled persons' home who escape from the authorities for a weekend to Paris was a hit at German cinemas in 2003 and the selected film for several European Year of Disabled Persons celebrations.
4. My Flesh and Blood, U.S. Searing 67 minute documentary by Jonathan Karsh showing the daily family life of a woman and her 11 adopted disabled children from abroad and from the U.S. Audience prize, Sundance film festival 2003.
5. Weightless, Norway. A well-reviewed 75 minute television documentary portraying the artistic development of a singer, Kari Iverland, who has a psychological impairment, produced by Sigue Endresen.

6. Mama Wahunzi (Women Blacksmiths), 57 minute video produced by Thai director, illustrating lives of women wheelchair builders in Kenya and Uganda, who are supported by the international Berkeley-based NGO, Whirlwind Women.
7. Born Freak, U.K. Short, quirky and insightful documentary featuring British actor Matt Fraser recounting the novel history of disabled people as features of "freak shows" or carnivals traveling through U.K. and USA in last century.
8. Refrigerator Mothers, U.S. Historic 53 minute overview of how influential doctors in the 1970s-1980s identified "cold" and detached white, middle-class mothers as the cause of autism in their sons and how this impacted families.
9. Look at Me, U.K. Effective dramatization about friendship between two boys, one with poor communication skills and the other who is deaf, who forge their relationship around the accidental death of a pet.
10. Kiss My Wheels, U.S. Fast paced, 56 minute lionhearted view of a competitive, coed high school wheelchair basketball team whose leaders are, coincidentally, from Indian and American Indian communities, and who do not flinch from all the confrontations of adolescence with a disability.
11. Liebe Perla, Israel/Germany. A 58 minute revealing exploration of a unique friendship and series of philosophical discussions between an 80 year old, short-statured Gypsy, Holocaust survivor from Romania, now living in Israel, and a young, German disability researcher and advocate with the same disability.
12. Wild on Wheels, South Africa. An exuberant and vital celebration of dancing and living life on the edge while using a wheelchair in post-apartheid South Africa.
13. Just a Wedding, Canada. An affectionate and warm 30 minute portrayal of how two people meet on the internet and progress toward marriage, despite vastly differing family backgrounds, expectations, and views towards disability, responsibility and, even, weddings. Includes clips from Academy Award winning short film of the bride as a young girl with spina bifida, entitled "I'll find a way."
14. Small Differences, U.S. Engaging and appealing group of kids with variety of disabilities interview adults with disabilities about how they are making communities more accessible and what their jobs are like. The kids are in charge of this delightful film.
15. Alison's Baby, Denmark. Produced in 1999 by Bente Milton for Denmark TV, a 49 minute documentary exploring the life of Alison Lepper, a new mother, disabled artist and thalidomide survivor, living in Brighton, England.
16. Nationale 7 (Uneasy Riders), France 2001. 95 minute documentary Directed by Jean-Pierre Sinapei, humorous dark drama on the theme of sexuality in a home for physically disabled persons.
17. The Champion, Mexico. Documentary about girl with Down syndrome. Once TV special.
18. Ennis' Gift, U.S. Explains learning disabilities in down to earth manner, encouraging use of role models who confronted their various learning problems and persisted until compensatory or inventive teaching methods were found to diminish or work around them. Features actors, scientists, teachers, business leaders and adolescents, all refusing to be limited by their labels.

19. Kami, Takelani Sesame Street, South Africa. The South African version of Sesame Street has introduced a strong, new character to the "Street," Kami who is HIV positive. Unicef has recently named Kami as an Ambassador.
20. My Darling, Finland. A 5 minute narrative about how a young man with intellectual impairment must choose between his girlfriend and his hunger for hotdog.
21. The Lifetime of Elvis Presley, Scotland. A celebratory and humorous short by Scottish artists with autistic spectrum disorder.
22. Kids Just Want to Have Fun, U.S. A 5 minute joyous celebration of young children with various disabilities playing, showing off and kidding around.
23. My Childhood Song, Finland. A 3 minute film described as "visual poetry," made by a woman with Down syndrome.
24. Annie Dearest, U.S. A nine minute satire of the relationship between Helen Keller and her most famous mentor, Annie Sullivan, produced by a deaf filmmaker.
25. Hose, Cards & Water Balloons, U.S. Three wild and crazy 30 second public service announcements produced by the Berkeley Center for Independent Living as part of a campaign to attract more people to personal assistance work.

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