ASFs We Are Athletes Accepted Into Two More Film Festivals

WINDHAM – We Are Athletes, the Adaptive Sports Foundation’s documentary short film, has been accepted into two upcoming film festivals: the Lighthouse International Film Festival (June 4–8) and the Manhattan Film Festival (June 12–22).

These will mark the fifth and sixth festivals to officially select We Are Athletes, joining the Woodstock Film Festival, the Big Apple Film Festival, The Santa Fe Film Festival, and the ReelAbilities Film Festival.

About the Film

In a society where neurotypical athletes are the norm, the Adaptive Sports Foundation in Windham challenges that perception. The documentary follows Farryl, a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, and Matt, a 33-year-old wounded war veteran.

As an ASF athlete, Farryl strives to ski independently, while Matt seeks a renewed sense of purpose despite chronic daily pain. Their journeys are filled with both trepidation and determination as they pursue their dreams on and off the slopes.

Directed by Angel Fonseca, We Are Athletes highlights the power of adaptive sports to transform lives and redefine what it means to be an athlete.

The film was co-produced by HUDSY, a Hudson Valley nonprofit that partners with filmmakers to tell vital regional stories.

Lighthouse Film Festival

We Are Athletes will screen at the Lighthouse International Film Festival on Saturday, June 7, at 1:15 p.m. at the Surf City Firehouse on Long Beach Island, N.J. It will be shown alongside four other short documentaries: The Speed Between Us, Di Sarno – The Story of Emilio’s Ballato, Fire Pit and Tiger.

Tickets are $12 and available at www.lighthouseff.com.

The Lighthouse International Film Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing new and innovative films and fostering the next generation of filmmakers. The festival features five days of films, panels, Q&As, networking events, beach parties, and surfing. It also offers unique programs that inspire and challenge through the art of film.

Manhattan Film Festival

We Are Athletes will be screened on Sunday, June 15, in Theater 1 at Cinema Village, near Union Square in Manhattan. The screening begins at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.manhattanfilmfestival.org. 

The 19th annual Manhattan Film Festival will again be hosted at Cinema Village, whose marquee has appeared in productions including Martin Scorsese’s The Departed and David Chase’s The Sopranos. The festival features a diverse lineup of features, shorts, documentaries, TV, web, and new media projects. It has been recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “Coolest Film Festivals in the World” and “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.”

Funding

We Are Athletes was made possible with generous grants from the KFC Foundation and HUDSY.