Prior to the official launch date on April 5, we're hosting a special sneak preview party for “disTHIS!” on Wednesday March 1 at the ConnecTV studios at DCTV, 87 Lafayette St. New York, NY 10013 from 7 to 9pm. The event is free and wheelchair accessible. To RSVP, please write me at: LCarterLong@uwnyc.org

About the films

The US premiere of three featured shorts written, directed, produced and starring people with disabilities from the groundbreaking "What's Your Problem?" series commissioned by the BBC including:

North Face: The neighbor of a young disabled woman is forced to face his feelings over their recent romantic liaison when he asks for help after being locked out of his apartment. 9 minutes.

The Egg: The perfect egg served in a greasy spoon to a disabled man at 4.00 am has life-changing repercussions for all present. 9 minutes.

Urban Myth: Two could-have-been-lovers who bump into each other again after 16 years, as a story of missed opportunity, personal anxiety and lust – that’s right, lust - unfolds. 9 minutes.

I’m Spazticus: Back by popular demand after our wildly popular screening with the Visible Theatre last fall, Jamie O’Leary’s daring mix of MTV’s Punk’d and Candid Camera turns the tables on an unsuspecting public when disabled people decide to break the taboo of laughing at disability – and our reactions to it – on their own terms. 20 minutes.

“Forget everything you’ve seen before,” said Lawrence Carter-Long, curator of the film series and the Network Coordinator of the Disabilities Network of NYC – a nonprofit organization working for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of Big Apple life. “We won’t subject viewers to another hokey tearjerker or movie of the week melodrama with manipulative violin music. True to the spirit of Academy award nominee “Murderball” the disTHIS! film and talkback series will be funny, sexy, and always provocative. This is disability cinema through a whole new lens.”

“Movies about disability have been more concerned about diagnosis than they have with character development, storytelling or innovation for far too long,” continues Asher Dorlester, of ConnecTV, a television production training program for people with disabilities cosponsoring the series. “ConnectTV’s training program for television and independent film producers and our hosting of disTHIS! with DNNYC is our way of helping correct that. We hope you’ll be as thrilled watching these films as we are to be co-presenting them.”

Those interested in announcements and updates regarding the disTHIS! Film Series: Showcasing Disability Through A Whole New Lens, can now sign up to receive periodic updates at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disTHIS-Film-Series