Grab some popcorn, candy and call dibs on the remote. It’s time for a movie. But not on Netflix — we’re watching Sproutflix, a collection of short films exclusively featuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or I/DD.
On Netflix you can catch a movie like "Rain Man" where Dustin Hoffman plays an autistic savant. But Sprout films allow people who have I/DD in real life to take the spotlight.
Now for the first time the Sprout Film Festival is coming to Arizona.
Jon Meyers is executive director of the Arc of Arizona, the organization hosting the festival. He said he gives full credit to actors like Hoffman, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sean Penn for their portrayals of people with I/DD.
"But what they don’t convey is the reality of the lives of these individuals. These actors with disabilities are tremendous and I think they have an even greater emotional effect on us," Meyers said.
The intent of all the films is to in some way dispel stereotypes about people with I/DD. They do it with comedy, like in the film “I Love Grilled Cheese.”
There’s romance in the film “Sheri and Paul.”
And don’t forget action. The film "Garrett’s Fight" documents the journey of 23-year-old Garrett Holeve, who wants to become an MMA fighter.
Holeve said he just ignores his Down syndrome, even though there were many people who felt someone with Down syndrome shouldn’t be allowed in the ring.
But Meyers said Garrett has an advantage.
"He didn’t feel any fear. And you know, maybe one of the things that holds us back in life is that we fear the consequences, we fear taking responsibility for those consequences ourselves," said Meyers.
It’s not just about the hardships of having I/DD. Meyers said the films are a celebration of accomplishments and a reflection on the real lives of people with I/DD.
The Sprout Film Festival will have an afternoon and an evening showing on Arizona State University’s West campus Friday.
