Back in its fourth edition, the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) Film Festival will be screening a series of meaningful and insightful international flicks over the five-day film festival that runs from Jan 15-19 at Shaw Theatres Lido.
Held in partnership with the Singapore Film Society, MINDS once again aims to raise awareness for persons with intellectual disability and foster a greater sense of understanding within the local community.
Opening the film festival on Jan 15 is The Peanut Butter Falcon, a sleeper hit that won the Audience Award for Narrative Spotlight in SXSW Film Festival 2019.
An American comedy-drama starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson and Zack Gottsagen, The Peanut Butter Falcon delves into the life of Zak, a young male with Down syndrome, who flees the comfort of a residential nursing home to follow his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Along the way he receives help from an outlaw on the run, and bumps into one of the nursing home employees who had previously cared for him.
Innoccent Witness
There’s also Innocent Witness, a Korean crime-drama about a teen girl with autism who is asked to take the stand as the only eye witness to a possible murder case; Intelligent Lives, that sees young American adults with intellectual disabilities challenge perceptions of intelligence and navigate school life as well as the workforce. Meanwhile, My Brother Chases Dinosaurs touches on the story of Jack, a high-schooler and his younger brother Gio, who has Down syndrome.
Educators of youths with special needs are spotlighted this season too, with movies such as Distinction and Champions, both not-to-be-missed.
And for the very first time, MINDS Film Festival will be holding free outdoor screenings as they take the festival to the heartlands. Held at both Tampines and Yishun, folks can gather at these two locations to catch Redha, a touching tale of a family working together to raise a child with autism.
For movies with a message, look no further than MIND Film Festival 2020.
MINDS Film Festival 2020 runs from Jan 15-19 at Shaw Theatres Lido and other locations. More information available here.
