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Tying Your Own Shoes

2009 16 min
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This short animated documentary offers an intimate glimpse into the exceptional mindsets and emotional lives of four adult artists with Down Syndrome. An artful, four-way essay about ability, film explores how it feels to be a little bit unusual. In her follow-up to her award-winning film, John and Michael, filmmaker Shira Avni pursues a deeper understanding of esteem and disability by inviting Petra, Matthew, Daninah, and Katherine to consider their pasts, relationships and ambitions.

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Tying Your Own Shoes

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This short animated documentary offers an intimate glimpse into the exceptional mindsets and emotional lives of four adult artists with Down Syndrome. An artful, four-way essay about ability, film explores how it feels to be a little bit unusual.

In her follow-up to her award-winning film, John and Michael, filmmaker Shira Avni pursues a deeper understanding of esteem and disability by inviting Petra, Matthew, Daninah, and Katherine to consider their pasts, relationships and ambitions.

Psychology and Psychiatry People with disabilities All subjects
  • writer
    Shira Avni
  • director
    Shira Avni
  • story
    Matthew Brotherwood
    Daninah Cummins
    Katherine Newton
    Petra Tolley
  • animation
    Matthew Brotherwood
    Daninah Cummins
    Katherine Newton
    Petra Tolley
  • supporting animation
    Shira Avni
    Lillian Chan
    Jonathan Ng
  • editor
    Carrie Haber
  • original music
    Luigi Allemano
  • sound design
    Luigi Allemano
  • musician
    Luigi Allemano
    Michael Bérard
    Mariane Croteau
    Dave Laing
    Shawn Mativetsky
    Catherine Meunier
    John Roney
  • foley
    Karla Baumgardner
  • music recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
  • foley recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
  • re-recording
    Shelley Craig
  • digital imaging specialist
    Susan Gourley
    Pierre Plouffe
  • digital artist
    Fred Casia
    Randall Finnerty
    Sarah Marchand
  • location audio
    Salim Hammad
  • location video
    Salim Hammad
  • online editing
    Denis Gathelier
  • titles
    Gaspard Gaudreau
  • technical co-ordination
    Julie Laperrière
  • production coordination
    Rosalina Di Sario
  • administration
    Gisèle Guilbault
  • marketing manager
    Mia Desroches
  • executive producer
    David Verrall
  • producer
    Michael Fukushima

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Education

Ages 15 to 17
Study Guide
Guide 1
School subjects
Diversity - Identity Ethics and Religious Culture - Ethical Values
Lead a discussion on living in harmony, showing tolerance and accepting differences, particularly in regard to people with Down syndrome. Show that these young people struggle with some of the same problems as anyone else, and want to love and be loved, find acceptance and realize their fullest potential as individuals in society
Tying Your Own Shoes
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Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

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Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.

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