Toronto, ON - ReelAbilities Toronto Film Festival in partnership with CBC Breaking Barriers Film Fund today announced Jason DaSilva as the inaugural recipient of the CBC-ReelAbilities Screenwriter Fund, awarding him $10,000. Announced in April 2017, the Fund inspired a range of screenwriters that identify with a disability to submit their stories.
After a thorough review of all submissions from a variety of genres that ranged from slapstick comedies to thrillers and dystopian science fiction, a jury chosen by Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, ReelAbilities Toronto and CBC Breaking Barriers Film Fund unanimously named Jason’s screenplay The Dismantled as the winning piece. To be produced by Montreal producer Paul Cadieux, The Dismantled was highly praised by jurors, who call it “a funny and provocative thriller with a brash anti-hero rarely seen in stories about disability.” They were impressed by its compelling story and hard-boiled dialogue, and singled out its skill in marrying its genre elements together with a timely and resonant exploration of recent political debates about healthcare and insurance.
“This competition has been a landmark for the Deaf and disability arts communities,” said Liviya Mendelsohn, Artistic Director, ReelAbilities Toronto Film Festival, and Manager of Accessibility and Inclusion at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. “RAFF’s mandate includes the showcasing of Canadian Deaf and disability cultures and a focus on Deaf filmmakers and filmmakers with disabilities, and we are thrilled the talents of so many great filmmakers have been brought to light.”
“I am really thrilled about this award. It is truly an honour to have been chosen unanimously by the Jury and the award will help us to make “The Dismantled” an incredible film,” said DaSilva. “ReelAbilities and CBC will be helping us to make this film a reality which is a challenge for all filmmakers. This is an important film for people with disabilities and their supporters, as it tells an often-unheard story and helps change the perception of this minority community. Thank you to all involved in making this possible and for recognizing my work in particular.”
Since 1998, DaSilva has made numerous short narrative films and documentaries. In 2013, Jason’s feature documentary When I Walk premiered at the Sundance International Film Festival. A critical and popular success, the film tells the story of Jason's own experiences with MS, and went on to win multiple awards including an Emmy.
About ReelAbilities Toronto Film Festival
ReelAbilities Film Festival brings together the community to promote awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. ReelAbilities Film Festival showcases films, conversations and artistic programs to explore, embrace and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience. 2017 was the second annual ReelAbilities Festival in Toronto. www.toronto.reelabilities.org About CBC Breaking Barriers Film Fund Offering new opportunities for experienced yet underrepresented filmmakers who have historically been at a disadvantage in accessing financing and making their unique voices heard, the CBC BREAKING BARRIERS FILM FUND helps finance English-language feature film projects that are written or directed by Canadian women, Indigenous persons, visible minorities and persons with a disability who have had at least one feature-length film showcased at a recognized film festival. Submissions are now being accepted with no formal deadlines. Further information and application guidelines are available at www.cbc.ca/breakingbarriers/.
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Media Contacts:
Zeenat Salimi - ReelAbilities Toronto Film Festival
zsalimi@holmespr.com
416.628.5606
Teaghan Hawke - CBC Breaking Barriers Film Fund
teaghan.hawke@cbc.ca
416.205.6863
