Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Disability Sport: 'Murderball' wins award at 2005 Sundance Film Festival

Thanks to Colin Guthrie for passing along this Paralympic News item. 'Murderball' (Think Film Company), a documentary about a unique fame of rugby on wheels, was awarded the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival in January. This film offers a revealing look into an increasingly popular Paralympic Sport. Apparently spectators love the sport, but teams find it difficult to secure corporate sponsorship. This high contact sport really dispels popular stereotypes of disability and sport, that may have been fostered over the years by the Special Olympics. One wonders if we will be able to view 'Murderball' in theaters or on television in the near future.

Update: The New York Times for March 26, 2005 features a review of the film, as it is to be shown in Manhattan over the weekend as part of the New Directors/New Films festival. Be on the lookout as the directors of Murderball move towards commercial release later in the spring.

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