Local Events: Sprout Film Festival

The dates for the 14^th Annual Sprout Film Festival are set. The event will once again return to SVA Theatre in New York City. The event will run from Saturday, May 21 through Sunday, May 22, 2016.

The Sprout Film Festival was founded in 2003 and is programmed and supported by Sprout, a New York City based non-profit organization dedicated to bringing innovative programming to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

According to Anthony DiSalvo, Executive Director of Sprout, “This unique event, which focuses exclusively on films that celebrate the diverse lives and creativity of people with I/DD, strives to challenge assumptions and breakdown stereotypes. By introducing powerful, thought-provoking films from around the world to new and ever-more inclusive audiences, we hope to promote greater acceptance, celebrate difference and light the spark to help make the invisible, visible.”

Call for Submissions

The Sprout Film Festival Call for Submissions is now open. For details on submitting a film for consideration, please visit the festival website at www.sproutfilmfestival.org

Comcast partners with The Arc & Sprout Film Festival

Through the end of November, Comcast is including 12 films from The Arc & Sprout Film Festival free On Demand for all Comcast/Xfinity subscribers. Please note, only Comcast/Xfinity subscribers can access these films.

To view Online: http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/watch/Sprout-Film-Festival/8164424342502163112/full-episodes#episode=8164424342502163112

To view via Television: go to On Demand, click into the Specials folder and then click into the folder labeled Disability Awareness. At the top of that page click on the folder labeled Sprout Film Festival.

Sprout Touring Film Festival

Arc & Sprout Film Festivals will be taking place around the country throughout November

November 7: Nashville, TN – The Arc Davidson County and Greater Nashville

November 10: Winchester, VA – The Arc of Northern Shenandoah Valley

November 13: Belcamp, MD – The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region

More information

For more information or to connect with the Sprout community visit the Sprout Film Festival Facebook page.

Jessica K. Smith Founder and CEO; Executive Director

Jessica Keenan Smith is a patient advocate and epilepsy community leader with more than 15 years of experience. As Founder and CEO of Living Well With Epilepsy and Executive Director of ASENT she bridges the gap between the scientific and patient communities, with a particular focus on the needs of the epilepsies. Jessica Keenan Smith is Founder and CEO of Living Well With Epilepsy, an award winning online resource for people affected by epilepsy to share stories and access in-depth information on the disease. Since 2009, Living Well With Epilepsy (https://livingwellwithepilepsy.com) has been featured in Forbes, Wired, NBC, NPR and the cover story of Epilepsy Advocate Magazine and has partnered with companies such as UCB, Lundbeck, Sunovion, Eisai, and more. Ms. Smith is also the Executive Director of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT) (https://asent.org), an organization that brings together leaders from industry, academia, government and advocacy who are engaged in bringing drugs and devices to market across all neurologic disease states. In this role she is responsible for leading a successful scientific journal and annual scientific conference with speakers from all over the world.

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