What to Watch: 5 Sundance-Supported Films to Watch During World Autism Awareness Month and Long After

By Stephanie Ornelas

There's so much beauty in seeing the world differently.

Independent filmmakers have done a lot to help open our eyes to unique narratives and experiences around the world. Artists like Samantha Buck (Best Kept Secret), Roger Ross Williams (Life, Animated), and Jerry Rothwell (The Reason I Jump) are just a few, having brought powerful projects that celebrate neurodiversity in front of audiences. And the financial support provided by Sundance Institute has only helped champion such stories.

Of course, [The Reason I Jump] can't reproduce the experience of being autistic, but what we've tried to do is shift from the neurotypical way of seeing things, explained Rothwell in his 2020 Sundance Film Festival Meet the Artist Video. Neurodiversity is a really important concept because what it does is make us understand that we all see the world subtly differently.

April has been named World Autism Awareness Month by many organizations, but stories like these should be amplified all year long. They help deconstruct stereotypes and bring us closer to understanding each other with compassion. If you're wondering how you can educate yourself and others on the remarkable stories of people with autism, start with this short-but-oh-so-sweet list of films that either screened at past Sundance Fests or were supported through Institute programs:

LINK:	https://www.sundance.org/blogs/what-to-watch-5-sundance-supported-film...
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