Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival

Our 2020 festival is postponed from May 18 to a date TDB likely in November due to concerns of the spread of COVID-19.

The new date shown here (Nov. 9 ) is possible but not yet confirmed.

Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival showcases films from around the world which address the challenges of life with a rare disease. Most (but not all) of our films are documentaries. Many are less than 20 minutes. Longer films may be submitted but it is more difficult for us to schedule longer films so your chances of being accepted may be lower. Our 2020 festival is in NYC. The 2019 festival took place in San Francisco. 2017 was in Boston.

We limit our selections to films about diseases that are not merely uncommon but rare, as defined by inclusion on the website for the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) here: https://rarediseases.org/for-patients-and-families/information-resources/rare-disease-information/

Our previous edition of this festival took place in Boston to mostly sold-out crowds.

Many of our filmmakers who attend will have an opportunity for questions and answers with our audience following the presentation of their film.

Between some of our slates of films, rare disease researchers and patient advocates will also share stories from their experience.

We believe increased awareness can connect patient families, lead to more research and save lives. These films put the often abstract and dire clinical information into the context of real people living their lives.

Unlike typical film festivals it seems a bit ...off... to offer an award in this context. We don't wish to suggest any film (or the disorder it addresses) is more worthy than another.

This agreement ("Agreement") is between you ("You" or "Filmmaker") and Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival ("Festival").

You hereby release your submitted film to be screened at the Festival.

In submitting your film, You agree to the following:
(a) You have all rights, licenses, clearances and releases necessary for exhibition of your film;

(b) You have the authority to enter into this agreement;

(d) You grant the Festival the rights to screen the film at any of the Festival's locations for a period of two (2) years from the date that you submit the film;

(e) You grant the Festival the rights to use clips, posters, still photographs, and trailers of the film, as well as your entry, name, image, likeness, photograph and video, for programming, advertising, promotional, and publicity purposes in any and all media, without compensation and without prior notice, approval, or inspection; and

(f) You release, discharge and hold harmless Festival, and their respective advertising and promotion agencies, and the respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives of the forgoing, from any and all injuries, liability, losses, and damages of any kind to persons, including death, or property, including to the film entries, resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from Your participation in the Festival or any Festival-related activity.

All disputes arising out of or connected with this Agreement will be resolved individually, and without resort to class action. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maine. Should there be a conflict between the laws of the State of Maine and any other laws, the conflict will be resolved in favor of the laws of the State of Maine. All judgments or awards shall be limited to actual incurred out-of-pocket expenses (excluding attorneys’ fees) associated with participation in the Festival and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages.

This Agreement, or any section thereof, shall not be construed against any party due to the fact that said Agreement or section thereof was drafted by said party.

This document is the entire final and complete agreement of the parties and replaces all prior or existing written and oral agreements between the parties or their representatives relating to this Agreement.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Rhonda Rowland

Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival provides an excellent opportunity to join with other filmmakers and rare disease advocates to raise awareness for individual diseases, the needs of patients and caregivers and highlight the hopeful contributions of science and medicine.

November 2019

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you Rhonda. We were so glad to have your film there and you there to talk about it.
Calliopi Villy Kotoula

We are hored that our shoer film called Figaro
https://www.creativeiconfilms.com/portfolio/figaro/
participated to your Festival! Thank you!

November 2019

Helpful
Carl Mason

We travelled over from the UK for the festival and Daniel & Bo's hospitality was amazing. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our film with the wider rare disease community and meet new contacts to spread the word about our film and its message. A fantastic platform and powerful event. Thanks again.

October 2018

Helpful

Response from festival:

So great to have you back with your new film in 2019 to follow on the heels of your film at our 2017 fest.
Gareth Burghes

Such a wonderful festival! Had an excellent time sharing my film with the rare disease community. Also made some excellent connections to adapt my short film into a feature-length documentary. Thank you Disorder for hosting such a great festival!

October 2017

Helpful

Response from festival:

Thank you Gareth, for attending, speaking, and sharing such a powerful touching film.

Disorder: The Rare Disease Film Festival