London Institute of Contemporary
Arts Explores Eugenics Films

In July the London based Institute of Contemporary Arts screened films under the theme of "Out of that Darkness," including a section on the subthemes of Eugenics, Euthanasia and Utopia.

Some of the films from this sector were: "Healing by Killing," showing how the aggressive forced euthanasia campaign in Germany in the years preceding the war led directly to the murder that followed; "Children of Gaia," a challenging exploration of attitudes towards physical disability, from Sparta to modern day, narrated by well-known disabled British actor, Nabil Shaban; "One of Us," a family of Holocaust survivors is having a difficult time coping with their Down Syndrome Child; and "Undesirables," shot in 1998, when as part of a major drive to 'cleanse' Moscow of tramps and beggars before the International Youth Olympics, government officials conducted mass deportation of those considered undesirable.

The ICA describes itself as "a public playground for developing and presenting new and challenging work across the arts." Details online: www.ica.org.uk/season/ootd/

Independence Festival
Bermingham, August 18-20

A disability arts festival is taking place in Birmingham, UK on August 18, 19 and 20, organized by the Westmidlands Disability Arts Forum. So far, the program features the Deaf Comedians-Angry Fish, Wanda Barbara, Mat Fraser's Disability Rap, Caroline Parker's signed songs and Spaghetti Junction, an art installation by seven disabled artists. Information online: info@wmdaf.org

International Film Festival
Helsinki, April 2001

Kynnyskino is an international disability film festival taking place in Helsinki in April 2001.  Particularly invited are films made by or in collaboration with people with disabilities. The festival will be organized by Threshhold, an association working for the equal rights of people with disabilities.

The organizers are looking for short-up to 15 minutes-films in the following formats: 35mm, 16mm or BetaSp. For pre-screening, entries must be received by February 28. Inquiries to Sari Salovaara via fax: 358 9 6733 6216 or email: sari.salovaara@fng.fi

International Short Film Festival
Munich, November 2001

The third International Short Film Festival on the theme, "The Way We Live," will be held November 14-17, 2001 in Munich. The festival is an activity of the National Forum of Disabled Persons in the Media. Details available from Karl Heinz Gruber via fax: 49 89 307 992 22 or email: gruber@abm-medien.de

The Forum is also completing a database of information about 2700 television, feature, documentary and animated films, which will soon be available on their website: www.abm-medien.de/filmbuero

Australian Invites Contacts for
"Not Quite Dead Yet Poets Society"

D. J. Ludlow of Australia wants to put together a "cyberspace coffee house" for disabled poets and writers "to facilitate publication and distribution of our works." Expressions of interest or questions should be sent to: dludlow@flexi.net.au

U.S. Comic Strip with
Character Using a Wheelchair

"Mulch" is a new comic strip whose main character uses a wheelchair. It was created by cartoonist Bob Shill, who also uses a wheelchair, and writer Paul Fell. Shill stated, "I make fun of myself quite a bit; the strip ranges from slapstick to poignant and serious." Right now it is being carried by newspapers in Wyoming and Utah and will be made available to  others through Signature Features, a syndication company. Details via email: content@icanonline.net

Spain to Improve Arts Access for
Visually Impaired Persons

The public authority of Lanzarote and ONCE (Spanish Organization of Blind Persons) are collaborating to improve access to the arts for visually impaired people. The first action under the agreement is improve access to The International Museum of Modern Art, focusing on production of materials and training of museum guides. The project leaders would like to find partners in other European countries for future collaboration under Culture 2000. Details from Fayna Leon via fax: 34 918 80 27 09 or email:fayna@cabildo.com

Fanlight Productions Offers
New Mental Illness Films

Fanlight Productions has a comprehensive disability issues collection of evaluated films for sale and rent. Two well-reviewed films concerning mental illness are now being offered: "Means of Grace," described as a daughter's compassionate look at her mother's mental illness; and "We Don't Live Under Normal Conditions," examining depression and mental illness as a societal problem, rather than merely individual pathology.

Write for Fanlight's catalog on healthcare, mental health and disability issues, via fax: 617 469 3379; email: fanlight@fanlight.com or visit the website: www.fanlight.com