Films rolled across the big screen, featuring diverse casts with representation for those with autism, mobility impairments and other disabilities while exploring family relationships, navigating stereotypes and overcoming everyday challenges.
Longhorn Best Buddies held the 12th annual film festival on March 29 in the William C. Powers Jr. Center to uplift and amplify the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities community in the arts.
“Despite 1/4 of the world having some sort of disability, disability can often be the most ignored, oppressed group and also the most underrepresented and under-appreciated group,” said Samantha Ho, Longhorn Best Buddies special events director and special education and Plan II junior. “Having this representation in Longhorn Best Buddies … (empowers) people to believe that we can do that, we can be in the spotlight.”
The festival included a line-up of films from Sproutflix, an organization including over 300 titles with disability representation, and an art gallery showcasing work from members of Longhorn Best Buddies.
After a brief intermission, four actors with disabilities took the stage performing a play titled “The Silver Trio,” written by Cole Hunter Dzubak and directed by Toby Al-Trabulsi from TUBU Fest, a disability theater festival. Overshadowed by the “Golden Trio,” the group deemed “The Silver Trio” saved the world but didn’t receive credit for their actions. Set in a mythical world, the play reflected the lived experience of individuals with disabilities often overlooked by society.
Following the play, a Q&A with the actors focused on inclusivity and representation in theater and the arts.
“Film and art is the way that we express ourselves and make our voices heard,” Ho said. “Having a whole event that’s all about disabled voices, disabled stories, disabled lives, is really our form of inclusion (and) promoting positive change.”
Buddies, individuals with disabilities, attended the festival with their peer buddies, who are UT Austin students they matched with earlier in the year. Buddies had the opportunity to discuss the films together, “Parallels” by Jared Braun and “In Your Dreams Boy” by Donal Gallagher.
Smeet Jaokar, English and economics sophomore, and his buddy, Austin Jones, attended the festival together.
Jones said he enjoys the games they play in Best Buddies such as Jeopardy.
“It’s better than sitting at home,” Jones said.
Matched with Jones earlier in the semester, Jaokar spent time building a friendship with him.
“I’d say my favorite part about being Austin’s buddy is that he always has a smile on his face, and he’s just really happy and excited,” Jaokar said. “He really inspires me to be happy and excited too.”
