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You’re Invited to "disThis!"

WHEN: Wednesday, March 1, 7-9 pm
RSVP: Lawrence Carter-Long, 212.251.4092

You’re Invited! “disThis!” Sneak Preview Party
A Monthly Film Series Showcasing Disability Through A Whole New Lens

Join the Disabilities Network of NYC and ConnecTV for a special sneak preview party for “disTHIS!” our new monthly film series devoted to demystifying the disability experience.

When: Wednesday March 1

Where: at the ConnecTV studios at DCTV, 87 Lafayette St. New York, NY 10013 from 7 to 9pm.

The ongoing film series will showcase award winning narrative, shorts, documentary and feature films with disability themes beyond the tragic/heroic trap moviegoers have come to expect beginning Wednesday, April 5. But we can’t wait to share our excitement, and celebrate, with our valued members, supporters and friends so we’re hosting a sneak preview party on Wednesday, March 1 to celebrate the new film series with you.

Snacks will be served and the space is wheelchair accessible. For more information or to RSVP, please call 212.251.4092. All disTHIS! movies, talkback sessions and related events are free and open to the public. Donations accepted.

About the films

The United States 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 society’s often funny 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.”