PRESS RELEASE
The 70th Sydney Film Festival today announced the seventh year of its Screenability program – a program comprised of outstanding films created by filmmakers living with disability.
Curated by Screenability Programmer Rebecca McCormack, a total of six works will screen in the program including SXSW Grand Jury Award winner Angel Applicant, Sundance-selected doc-fiction The Tuba Thieves, and the powerfully personal documentary Is There Anybody Out There? Also in the selection the world premiere of three Australian Screenability Filmmakers Fund for NSW short films – 14 in February, Chum and Fighting.
In its seventh consecutive year, the Festival continues to champion inclusivity by offering audio-described and open-captioned screenings of the films in the Screenability program, as well as a diverse selection of English-subtitled films.
Screenability at Sydney Film Festival forms part of a broader initiative aimed at increasing the involvement of underrepresented groups in the screen industry, with a particular emphasis on showcasing films by filmmakers with disabilities within a festival context.
Rebecca McCormack said, “Screenability empowers screen practitioners with disabilities, enabling them to share their genuine stories and introduce fresh perspectives to audiences. The 2023 Screenability program features compelling and thought-provoking films from global storytellers and will debut three imaginative new shorts from local storytellers.”
Richard Cohen, Acting Head of Screen NSW said, “Screen NSW is thrilled that the talent and creativity of filmmakers with disability will be showcased once again this year at the 70th Sydney Film Festival. The Screen NSW Screenability Filmmakers Fund offers filmmakers with disability the opportunity to tell authentic stories of the lived experience of disability to audiences on a global scale. Be sure to catch all three films at this year’s Festival.”
Sydney Film Festival runs from 7-18 June 2023.
Flexipasses and subscriptions to Sydney Film Festival 2023 are on sale now. Call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au for more information. The full Sydney Film Festival program is announced on Wednesday 10 May 2023, when tickets to specific film sessions will be on-sale.
Follow Sydney Film Festival: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
