The Ability Exchange

The Ability Exchange

Directed by Bing Wang
This observational film explores disability, inclusion and empathy in a classroom and beyond.
Website
Official Website
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Trailer

Overview

Genre
Human Interest, Human Rights, Social Issues, and Minorities
Synopsis

THE ABILITY EXCHANGE is a documentary film about an innovative Disability Studies course at NYU Polytech where engineering students and self-advocates with cerebral palsy team up to make movies. This observational film illustrates the trajectory of personal growth and bonding that these first time filmmakers experience, during a journey of which the line between ability and disability gets blurred, definitions of “normalcy” and “inspiration” challenged. THE ABILITY EXCHANGE invites the viewer to reflect on what it takes to understand and appreciate a person, a community, a culture, and how this exchange of abilities and perspectives empowers lives.

​The film had its NYC hometown presentation at 2016 Bushwick Film Festival and has won "Best Feature Documentary" at 2016 DC Reel Independent Film Extravaganza, "Audience Favorite" Award at Ellensburg Film Festival, Spotlight Documentary Film Award and Award of Merits from Accolade Global Film Competition.

"an empathy engine"—Indiewire

Stage
finished
Running time
75 minutes

Credits

  • Bing Wang ... Director, Producer, Writer, Editor, Cinematographer

Production Details

Country
United States
Years of Production
2016
Locations
New York, NY

Distribution Details

Release year
2016
Festivals
2016 Bushwick Film Festival, 2016 Kansas International Film Festival , 2016 Louisville International Film Festival, 2016 Newark International Film Festival
Awards
Indiewire's "Project of the Month", Ellensburg Film Festival - Best Feature/Audience Favorite, Reel Independent Film Extravaganza - Best Feature Documentary
Language
English
Subtitles
English SDH

Photos

89a6dc196a78fc323b36fdb53c109e52

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