Superfest 2023 is happening online from Thursday, October 19th to Sunday, October 22nd.
There will be in-person screenings on Saturday, October 21st, at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley and on Sunday, October 22nd, at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
More details are coming soon! Meanwhile, read on to discover the blurbs for our 2023 films and mark your calendars!
Explore our Content Warnings/Trigger Warnings list for this year’s films. While we aim for thoroughness, prioritize self-care during viewing.
Abi Palmer Invents the Weather (Light)
UK, 2023 (Documentary/Experimental Short, 10 min)
Abi Palmer offers a unique perspective on spring in this film, blending the literal and abstract.
She captures the essence of the season by creating an environment that her indoor cats can enjoy.
Through a heartfelt voiceover, Palmer expresses her love for her cats and the changing climate.
The film is a curious exploration of disability, weather, and the unspoken moments of life.
“Light” marks the third installment in the “Abi Palmer Invents the Weather” series, showcasing Palmer’s year-long journey to bring the outside world to her indoor feline companions.
As You Are *Best of Festival Award*
USA, 2023 (Dramatic Short, 15 min)
When a queer couple with different abilities spends their first night together, they face challenges in their relationships related to desire, sexuality, personal freedom, and the true meaning of love.
Also Read: 2016 FILM SELECTIONS
Chronic
Canada, 2022 (Dramatic Short, 9 min)
After experiencing a traumatic brain injury, a young woman’s healing journey hits a roadblock when her friends push her to attend a birthday party.
Following a re-injury, she begins her fresh start by joining a support group for chronic pain.
Culicidae *Innovation in Craft Award*
Australia, 2022 (Dramatic Short, 6 min)
A mosquito buzzing around at night can turn into a fight for life and death.
Fire Through Dry Grass *Directors’ Choice Award*
USA, 2022 (Documentary Feature, 86 min)
On a small NYC island, Black and brown disabled artists are battling COVID-19, and the city to safeguarding 500 vulnerable nursing home residents.
Invisible World
USA, 2023 (Experimental Short, 5 min)
To get a disabled parking permit, a local doctor needs to approve your application. There are six medical conditions that make someone eligible for a permit.
This film documents the filmmaker’s experience with healthcare in Utah.
The video captures her appointment and its aftermath, aiming to reclaim and assert a new perspective on disability and the physical world.
Me If I Were A Woman *Disability Justice Award*
France, 2022 (Dramatic Short, 27 min)
Juliette, a 19-year-old with Down syndrome, is in her first romantic relationship.
However, her love story takes a turn when her mother and doctors push her to have sterilization surgery due to her disability.
With limited time, Juliette must decide and ensure her voice is heard.
Of Kisses and Capes
Germany, 2023 (Dramatic Short, 27 min)
Isi and Finn are getting ready for their first intimate experience. However, their relationship faces challenges as their insecurities and communication issues nearly put it at risk.
Take Me Home
USA, 2022 (Dramatic Short, 16 min)
After their mom passes away, a woman with cognitive disabilities and her distant sister have to figure out how to communicate to move forward.
The Beauty of Being Deaf
USA, 2023 (Experimental Short, 3 min)
Chella Man, an artist, director, and author, shares a meditation on Deaf identity and language, set underwater.
(Un)fit to Work
UK, 2022 (Experimental Short, 5 min)
A disabled mechanic guides us through an imaginary musical journey of 80s disco and ballroom after being denied the chance to apply for his ideal job at the local job center.
Uonted!
Italy, 2018 (Dramatic Short, 13 min)
A group of disabled individuals in a social co-op is buzzing with excitement as they discuss where to go on their next trip.
Tiziano, however, isn’t interested in democratic votes. He has his heart set on visiting Cinecittà World, a movie-themed amusement park, to explore the Old West.
What will he come up with when he finds out the attraction is not what he imagined?
We Care
UK, 2022 (Dramatic Short, 16 min)
Annie is astonished to discover that her new caregiver is a very masculine man.
This charming and humorous story takes a somber turn with tragic outcomes when Annie is let down by the system designed to look after her.
We Make Film *Advocacy Award*
India, 2021 (Documentary Feature, 80 min)
In the documentary We Make Film, set in three Indian cities, we follow the creative journeys of filmmakers Debopriya, Mijo, and Anuja, all of whom are d/Deaf and disabled.
The film highlights their successes in overcoming accessibility challenges but also sheds light on times when they had to give up on their dreams due to barriers like inaccessible places, exclusive production methods, or difficulties in film education.
While Shweta records their stories, she thinks about her own privileges and revisits the creative partnerships she’s shared with her disabled father over the years.
We Make Film explores the experiences of these four filmmakers, reconsidering accessibility, allyship, and collaboration in today’s filmmaking world, and dreams of a future where creativity is inclusive for everyone.
Whose Voice Is It Anyway *Jury’s Choice Award*
UK, 2022 (Mockumentary Short, 5 min)
A humorously dark mockumentary follows the stories of two identical 40-year-old women, Lottie and Charlie, both living with athetoid cerebral palsy.
As they celebrate their 40th birthday with loved ones, one is able to communicate and make choices, while the other is not.
