Asian man with Down syndrome wearing classy suit and glasses gives wave in front of Down Syndrome Resource Foundation backdrop; text: DSRF's Down Syndrome Film Festival May 17, 2025 (12:30-3:30 pm), VIFF Centre: Vancity Theatre, DSRF.org/FilmFest
Events + Workshops

2025 Down Syndrome Film Festival

The third annual Down Syndrome Film Festival will showcase three films created by and starring members of BC’s Down syndrome community, including The Originals, Chapter 21, and Kindred Spirits: Chronicles of Down Syndrome Friendship. An audience Q&A with some of the creators and performers will follow the screening.

THE ORIGINALS (2024) – directed by Niall McNeil

Artist and filmmaker Niall McNeil ventures back to his hometown to visit the performers and people at the heart of BC’s legendary Caravan Farm Theatre, an outdoor theatre company established in 1978.

CHAPTER 21 (2024) – directed by Sophia Wolfe

“Chapter 21” is a powerful experimental dance documentary that captures a pivotal chapter in the life of Indigenous dance artist, performer, and mother, Starr Muranko. The film follows Starr in the lead-up to the premiere of a deeply personal performance, exploring the intimate intersection of her cultural identity, artistic journey, and the challenges of facing unexpected and life-altering events.

The film is a meditation on the power of resilience, transformation, and healing through the body, as Starr navigates the emotional and spiritual landscape of these challenges.

Chapter 21 is a celebration of the sacred act of creating in the face of adversity.

film poster for Kindred Spirits: Chronicles of Down Syndrome Friendship, featuring three young adults with Down syndrome (brown haired woman, blonde haired man, blonde haired woman)

KINDRED SPIRITS: CHRONICLES OF DOWN SYNDROME FRIENDSHIP (2025) – directed by Matthew Hoos

Kindred Spirits celebrates the special friendships that people with Down syndrome form with one another. Three groups of adults give us a glimpse inside their unique relationships, while DSRF experts provide insights for helping loved ones with Down syndrome cultivate meaningful friendships with one another.