We’ve always been big fans of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Now in its 10th year, it’s one of the few events that lets disabled storytellers showcase their work for able-bodied audiences. The quality of the material keeps getting better, and the range of voices keeps getting broader and more diverse.
A record-breaking 115 entries were submitted this year, all of them focused on the theme of disability and love. That’s a rich subject, and the filmmakers explore it from every angle. We watched at least part of all 115 films, which sounds like a huge investment but is really equivalent to watching two feature films or about half a season of Succession. It’s totally doable. Each film runs from three to five minutes (you can find them all here).
The list below features the 2023 Film Challenge entries that touch on on limb loss and limb difference. Many of them intersect with other forms of disability, which we’re happy to see. Indeed, we recommend that you venture beyond this list to check out stories told from other disability perspectives.
