Experiencing Interruptions?

Disabled Artist Showcase: Creating Our Spaces

We examine the work of four disabled musical and film artists living with Cerebral Palsy and SMA (Spinal Muscle Atrophy) who are helping to lead the movement that is advocating for inclusion of more disabled artists in the music, film and entertainment industries. Their extraordinary talents are showcased for all to see.

Their advocacy work for disability inclusion leads them on a difficult path demanding more access for disabled creators. They use their creative gifts to make their statements and to move their work forward.

We showcase their talents and messages in this film produced and directed by disabled filmmaker Emmitt H Thrower.

  • Emmitt Thrower
    Director
    Where is Hope: The art of Murder
  • Emmitt Thrower
    Producer
    Where is Hope: The Art of Murder
  • Leroy Moore Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Leroy Moore Jr"
    Where is Hope: The Art of Murder
  • Keith Jones
    Key Cast
    "Keith Jones"
    Where is Hope:The Art of Murder
  • James Ian
    Key Cast
    "James Ian"
  • Dominick Evans
    Key Cast
    "Evans"
  • Emmitt Thrower
    Music Video Credits
    Producer/Director - Blindman Stood on the corner and Cried
  • Leroy Moore Jr
    Music Video Credits
    Vocalist/Writer - Blindman Stood on the corner and Cried
  • Erick Matuse
    Music Video Credits
    Camera - Blindman Stood on the corner and Cried
  • James Ian
    Music Video Credits
    Spaces - Singer/Lyricist
  • Dominick Evans
    Music Video Credits
    Spaces - Virtual Director
  • Zarek Elizondo
    Music Video Credits
    Spaces - Album Cover art design
  • Genentech Corporation
    Music Video Credits
    Spaces -Music Video Sponsor- SMA my way program
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 31, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 2022 Big Syn International Film Festival, London
    London
    United Kingdom
    October 23, 2022
    World
    Winner Honorable Mention Award
  • ACCOLADE GLOBAL COMPETITION
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    December 1, 2022
    Winner Award of Recognition
  • Onyko Film Awards
    Odesa
    Ukraine
    December 12, 2022
    Winner Monthly Award - Short Documentary
  • Mannheim Arts and Film Festival

    Germany
    December 14, 2022
    Winner Best Short Documentary
  • Knights of the Reel
    Hyderabad
    India
    December 24, 2022
    Winner Award - Disability Issues
  • Scorpiousfest
    Holladay, Utah
    United States
    December 24, 2022
    nominated Best Short Documentary
  • Scorpiusfest
    Park City, Utah
    United States
    January 17, 2023
    Winner- Best Documentary Short
  • New York Istanbul Short Film Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    February 9, 2023
    Winner Best Documentary short
  • American Filmatic Arts Awards
    Brooklyn, New York
    United States
    February 13, 2023
    Winner Best Short Documentary/Social Issue
  • Milan Gold Awards
    Milan
    Italy
    January 14, 2023
    Winner Best Short Documentary
  • Dumbo Film Festival
    Brooklyn, New York
    United States
    October 19, 2023
    Semi Finalist
  • International Black & Diversity Film Festival – (IBDFF)
    Toronto
    Canada
    June 3, 2023
    Best musical film
  • Big Sur Film Festival
    Carmel, California
    United States
    January 20, 2024
    Official Selection - Best Documentary
  • WILDsound Daily Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    February 24, 2023
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Symbiotic Film Festival
    Kiev
    Ukraine
    June 3, 2023
    OFFICIAL SELECTION -BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
  • Iconic Images Film Festival

    Lithuania
    March 29, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Dumbo Film Festival
    Brooklyn, New York
    United States
    March 9, 2023
    Semi Finalist
  • Anatolia International Film Festival
    Anatolia International Film Festival
    Turkey
    April 10, 2023
    FINALIST
  • Golden Bridge Istanbul Short Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    April 15, 2023
    Best Short Documentary
  • Golden bridge Istanbul Short Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    April 14, 2023
    FINALIST Best Short Film
  • The Tylerman International Film Festival
    Wheaton, Il
    United States
    April 24, 2023
    Choice Award
  • Pulling Focus Film Festival
    Davenport, Iowa
    United States
    June 16, 2023
    Honorable Mention
  • New Jersey Film awards
    Jersey City, NJ
    United States
    May 30, 2023
    Best Short Documentary
  • Telly Awards
    New York
    United States
    May 23, 2023
    Bronze Telly Award
  • New York Movie Awards
    New York
    United States
    July 30, 2023
    Best Short Documentary
  • Creator Film Festival
    Central New York
    United States
    July 15, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Freedom Film Festival
    Columbia, SC
    United States
    August 24, 2023
    Best Disability short Film
  • Cacique Film Awards
    Cairo
    Egypt
    July 14, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Frida Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    August 12, 2023
    Best Short Documentary
  • 8 & Halfilms Awards
    Rome
    Italy
    August 14, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Micheaux Film Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • Rare Outreach Coalition LLC
    Distributor
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Emmitt Thrower

Emmitt is an award-winning disabled filmmaker who is a stroke survivor with impaired vision. His award-winning documentary "Where is Hope: The Art of Murder" on the subject of police brutality against people with disabilities is available in libraries, universities and colleges worldwide.

He has produced and directed other documentaries such as “Happy”, a feature documentary about life at a Bronx senior citizen center.

"New Borning: The Creactivist" is a short documentary about a photojournalist from Prague' and her journey of discovering the Bronx, New York. Jana Hunterova an international award-winning photojournalist had so badly wanted to experience the Bronx for herself. We were brought together and we explored the Bronx in this collaboration. Through my activism work and my creativity, she created a story through her lens.

“For the Love of Ebony” is a feature documentary about a Bronx child who was abandoned in a Bronx shelter by her drug-addicted mother. Her journey of survival and trauma.

“ Silent Sellers” is a short documentary about the struggle of street vendors in the South Bronx trying to survive. They resort to renting expensive vendor licenses from the black market just to make a living and to care for their families.

“Soul of a Priest” is a feature documentary that tells the story of a Bronx poet/artist who was raised in a foster home struggling with alcoholism and self hate. He pours his emotions into his art. He is stuck mentally at a distant time during the turbulent 1970's.

“Disability and Cultural Activism” is a feature documentary that chronicles the efforts of a disabled poet/artist/activist and Bronx native in his fight against police brutality against people with disabilities. He is using hip-hop music and poetry as a tool for his activism. We chronicle his efforts in organizing disabled musicians worldwide to create a CD around the subject.

Emmitt was awarded the 2016 BRIO Award from the Bronx Arts Council for his excellent film work as well as receiving "The Independent Spirit Award" in culture. He also is an award-nominated actor and a member of the Actors Equity Association.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Creating film, for me, is the revolutionary process of communicating ideas and concepts that remind us that we are human. As humans, we all differ, but at the same time, we share a common humanity.

Our views of the world are formed by our personal experiences. that moves us forward towards a better understanding of the world we live in.

We escape the confines of our own skin by exploring our world through open eyes and taking on new challenges. This allows us to view our environment in broad and exciting new ways. We are reshaping who we are and uncovering the true nature of our relationships.

When we are acting outside the confines of our personal histories it encourages us to grow. Changing our point of view can reveal original ideas and concepts. So that we are able to develop a deeper understanding of who we are as a community.

My film work revolves around breaking down old boundaries and actively contributing to an ever-evolving view of ourselves. I am a storyteller using images, words, and sounds to explore our stories of failures and successes.

I do it all from a uniquely different angle that is based on my own worldviews, my own limitations, and my own life choices. My films may at first seem familiar but by digging deeper you will uncover the uniqueness, impactfulness, and sometimes outrageousness. The films however always remain entertaining.

I aspire to teach about the diminishing art of human interaction. We are as a society losing our grip on the value of real human interactions. I want to break us out of our technology-based relationships and return us to real human personal interactions.

Films remind us that the life stories that we each are living are not pre-written or old reruns. They are original scripts that we can edit and re-work in a way so as to steer the outcome towards our true desires and passions.