Ben lives in a universe unto itself. He hides from his harsh reality of school, being bullied, and awkward social interactions by escaping into his favorite online computer game, Archlord, where he is safe, strong, and in control of his surroundings. In this remarkable drama, Ben devises a plan to leave his reality and to become the hero he dreams of being.

Ten years ago, Paul Nadler was a creative maverick: an extreme sportsman, award-winning TV director, and a veritable Casanova to boot. When a car accident leaves him with a traumatic brain injury he sets out to reaffirm he is still is all of these things.

***This film includes brief nudity

This film focuses on the vibrant lives of five women with disabilities on their journey to the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant, where the concept of beauty is defined through the lens of advocacy & perseverance.

HENRY O! tells the story of Enrique (Henry) Oliu, a man blind since birth, who has made his major league baseball dream come true. Calling upon his love for sports and an encyclopedic memory for facts and figures, Henry hears the crack of the bat and knows if it’s a single, double, or home run; he listens for the ball singing into the catcher’s mitt and knows if it’s a curve ball, fastball, or change-up. Henry is the analyst for the strongest Hispanic station in Florida’s Tampa Bay Market. At his side in the broadcast booth is his wife Deb, whispering in his ear up-to-the-minute stats.

A coming-of-age drama about a family that struggles to keep up appearances while hiding their sins from one another. When the eldest son, who has autism, returns from an institution, the pressure builds and secrets begin to emerge.

Daniel, a recent college graduate with Down Syndrome forges a strong bond with vivacious workmate Laura, but their burgeoning relationship turns complicated when he professes his love to her. This gripping narrative questions modern relationships and conceptions of “normality” as the couple grapples with their need to connect.

A cinematic road trip follows a deaf couple and their young nephew on their way to Tehran. Before they get there, the couple must break the bad news to the boy that his parents were killed in an accident, but the journey proves to be more complex than they even expected.

co-presented by the Global Film Initiative. For more information, visit www.globalfilm.org.

Jet Li, in his first dramatic role, stars in this moving story of a father’s tireless love for his autistic son and his attempt to teach his son the life skills necessary to survive on his own. A poignant tribute to parents’ infinite love for their children.

An international collection of short films:

AGLAEE
Rudi Rosenberg / France / French / 20 min
When Benoit loses a schoolyard bet he must invite Aglaee, a girl with CP, to go out with him.

ALL DAY
Nadia Nadarajah / UK, 2010 / English / 11 min
Two single neighbours are looking for love. Each neighbour admits to their friends that they fancy the other, but neither knows that the other is also Deaf.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO
Emma Buckley / Australia / English / 7 min
Two boys face off in a back room. The competition is fierce. Faces are pulled, grapes are thrown and burps are unleashed.  But when the stakes are at their highest will victory be sweet?

SOUND SHADOWS
Julie Engaas / Norway / Norwegian / 7 min
“Many people think that I live in darkness, but before my eyes there is nothing; just air.” In “Sound of Shadows” you enter a world where sound gives shape to space.

STUBBORN AND SPITE
Lou Birks / UK / English / 3 min
Witness the mayhem that ensues when two drivers fight over who should get the last disabled parking spot - with drastic, and often hilarious consequences.

SHOOTING BEAUTY tells the story of fashion photographer Courtney Bent whose career takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a hidden world of beauty at a center for people living with significant disabilities. Shot over the span of a decade, this film puts you in Courtney’s shoes as she overcomes her own unspoken prejudices and begins inventing cameras accessible to her new friends. Courtney’s efforts snowball into an award-winning photography program called “Picture This”—and become the backdrop for this eye-opening story about romance, loss and laughter that will change what you thought you knew about living with a disability—and without one.

Four Iraq War veterans turn the nightmares of war into Olympic dreams. After losing limbs and suffering paralysis fighting for their country in Iraq, they have set out to do what many thought impossible… but will they make the cut?