Disability Rights Movement Showcased at Sundance Film Festival 2020
Actor Nic Novicki interviewed in Park City, Utah January 26, 2020
By James Nelson
PARK CITY, Utah-A 1970s summer camp story titled, “Crip Camp” is a showcase movie at Sundance 2020 further cementing the festival’s commitment to important but little known stories. The movie is co-directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht. Film footage of the camp for disabled youth offers powerful imagery of kids playing and simply enjoying life. Crip Camp is being screened in the U.S. Documentary Competition at Sundance.
“I was at the premiere. It was a touching, beautiful, funny, amazing I can’t wait until the world sees. I’m really proud of Jim LeBrecht the director, who has a disability as well. The whole cast, crew and the time is now to include people with disabilities,” said actor Nic Novicki in an interview on Main Street in Park City, Utah.
As an actor, producer and comedian Novicki has been in forty television shows and movies, including the Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, and Drop Dead Diva. He is attending Sundance to help others with disabilities get involved with the film and entertainment industry. Novicka, who says he is three-foot ten and “lucky” to be in so many films wants other people with disabilities get more involved in entertainment.
“We just officially launched our seventh annual EasterSeals Disability Film Challenge “live” from Sundance.” said Novicki.
The Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge is a 55-hour filmmaking competition aimed at changing the way the world defines and views disability.
“The numbers speak for themselves. Twenty-five percent of the population has a disability. We’re in less than three percent of film and tv shows. So, the numbers don’t really show it but when “Crip Camp” opens the Sundance Film Festival, I’m very optimistic.” A smiling Novicki stated.
The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge recognizes the talent and hard work that goes into producing a short film in a single weekend by presenting four awards to film challenge participants: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay and Best Awareness Campaign.
Additionally, the 2019 finalists in each award category will receive:
- Announcement and screening of their film at the Newport Beach Film Festival (April 27)
- A one-year subscription to Variety Magazine
- A one-year membership to Film Independent
