Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Through the lens of mental health and self-discovery, these short films delve into the intricate tapestry of the mind, exploring subjects such as disability, meditation, alienation, and the power of human connection. APHONIA The daily routine of a boarding school for deaf children is disturbed by the arrival of a new student, who doesn't know sign language. A deaf girl helps him find his way into the new world. Their special friendship will soon be put to the test. The film features deaf and hard-of-hearing children. DUST TO LIGHT A documentary about what is really going on under the surface when we are cleaning. The film listens as four Zen practitioners reflect on the transformative process of cleaning when it is approached as a meditation rather than burdensome chore. DAVEY'S LULLABY A spirited, middle-aged man with Down Syndrome faces an uncertain future when his mother, who lovingly cares for him as he struggles with bouts of dementia and growing physical infirmity, is no longer able to help him. CAN'T HELP MYSELF Estere spends her days by the sea selling ice cream. Trying to find peace, she listens to meditation podcasts and self-help audio-books. Meanwhile, strangers caressed by the summer sun look for the same in tarot cards, fortified drinks, and the Bible. Estere starts to repeat their chit chat, slowly beginning to believe what they are saying. A mournful passage of time where those you’ve met by chance and those you’ve long forgotten are destined to meet. THE GIFT OF COLOR Deeply rooted in their routine of avoidance an adolescent teen and their grandmother unexpectedly find themselves on a path of self-reflection and acceptance. I ONCE WAS LOST One night in 2008, my father, John, got lost in a Boston suburb. LET IT OUT A man suffering from depression finds something unexpected at his lowest point.