The Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival dispels common misperceptions about disability by showing films that portray people with disabilities in an accurate and interesting way. The feature films show that individuals with disabilities live the same sort of full and independent lives as all other people.
The short film competition is an important part of this festival. This competition gives filmmakers a chance to share their own short disability film with our audience. The films with the most imaginative and interesting portrayals of people with disabilities will both win prizes and be featured at Cinema Touching Disability.
We welcome submissions from all filmmakers, ranging from the professional to the independent, student, or amateur. The filmmaker may also be of any age, ranging from elementary school student to adult. We welcome entries from filmmakers who have a disability. You do not have to have a disability to submit.
Films may be entered in either the documentary or non-documentary division. Documentary films provide factual accounts of a disability or a person with a disability, while non-documentary entries are fictional. Non-documentary films can be of any genre. Past winners have included comedy, music video, animation, science fiction, horror, and even silent films.
The following prizes are awarded in each division.
• First Place: $500 USD
• Second Place: $250 USD
• Third Place: $100 USD
The top three winning films in each division will be shown at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas during the Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival October 19-20, 2018. The films also have a chance to win the Audience Favorite Award.