Cinema Touching Disability is back for our 17th year! This year’s popular Short Film Competition drew over 150 entries from 28 countries. The winners of the documentary division of the short film competition will be shown on Friday the 16th, while winners of the non-documentary division will be featured on Sunday the 18th. Saturday’s event will feature films on the little-known Invalid Corps, a squad of veterans with amputations and other disabilities that played a key role in the Civil War.

Each evening of the Festival, filmmakers will hold a virtual Q&A.

Cinema Touching Disability is free to the public, with registration, which includes access to all films through October the 25th, one week after Festival events conclude.

“You don’t have to be a person with a disability to enjoy Cinema Touching Disability,” said Fest Director William Greer. “The films are highly engaging; some will make you smile; others will provoke thoughts.” For its first 16 years, the Fest was an anticipated live theater event in Austin, Texas. “While the COVID pandemic derailed our theater experience, we are very excited to offer these incredible films to a virtual audience anywhere there is internet,” added Greer.

Cinema Touching Disability is made possible with major sponsor support from Superior HealthPlan, United Healthcare, Amerigroup, Genentech, Hart InterCivic, Humana, AbbVIE, and the Harry S. and Isabel C. Cameron Foundation. This project is also supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.