April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, a United Nations designated and internationally recognized day in which UN Member States are encouraged to raise awareness about autism and related spectrum conditions.
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Spectrum - A Story of the Mind: The Rich Sensory Experience of Autism (24 min)
Dr. Temple Grandin, the most well-known autistic person in the world, breaks down the link between autism and sensory experiences. Her descriptions are illustrated with vivid character animation. In childhood, Temple's sensory sensitivities were severe; a simple hug felt like a tidal wave of stimulation. The sound of rain could be described as loud as bullets. Others experience visual sensitivity like seeing flickering in fluorescent lights in a classroom or having sensory overload that creates a kaleidoscopic chaos.
Grandin explains that sensory issues originate in the brain processing - not in the eyes or in the ears. She believes these issues should be a primary focus for autism research. Understanding sensory perception could make a big impact on the lives of autistic kids and adults.
Unspoken: The Dynamic Life of an Autistic Teenager (27 min)
14-year old Emma Zurcher-Long sees and hears the world, as she put it, in 'Hi-res, technicolor and surround sound'. While it may not always be easy for people to understand where Emma is coming from, it has become her mission to teach the world how potent, powerful and dynamic the life of a teenager with autism actually is.
To achieve this Emma uses the keyboard to strengthen her communication with others. Applying her insightful writing as a catalyst and remedy to the fear and misunderstanding surrounding autism, Emma presents Unspoken as a collaborative self-portrait.
The Special Need: An Autistic Man's Journey of Self Discovery (79 min)
This stereotype-breaking film introduces Enea, a 29 year old autistic man looking for love. He hasn't found the right girl yet, but he hasn't stopped looking. One day, after taking a photo of a girl on the bus, he is pushed to the ground by her boyfriend. Enea's therapist convinces his mom that the time has come for the man to cope with his sexual desires. His friends, Carlo and Alex, get involved and try to find a way for Enea to have sex in a safe and legal environment.
From Bolzano to Linz, Zurich and Hamburg, they embark upon a journey that will take them far beyond what they initially imagined. More people will join the mission and a series of unexpected events will divert the van from the initial destination towards new paths. What started as an expedition aimed at having sex soon becomes a journey into Enea's most intimate feelings and a way for the three friends to explore their own conception of love, friendship and freedom.
Winner of the SXGlobal Audience Award at the SXSW Film Festival.
Dina: A Real Life Unconventional Romantic Comedy (103 min)
In this 2017 Sundance and IDA award-winning film, Dina, an eccentric and outspoken 49-year-old in suburban Philadelphia, invites her fiancé Scott, a Walmart door greeter, to move in with her. Having grown up neurologically diverse in a world blind to the value of their experience, the two are head-over-heels for one another, but shacking up poses a new challenge.