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Tying Your Own Shoes

Shira Avni
2009 | 16 min
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.

Awards and distinctions

  • Grand Prix Japan Prize - Welfare Education Category
    International Educational Program Contest Japan Prize, Tokyo
    2010
  • Award for Excellence and Innovation in Video
    Canadian Network for Innovation in Education, Hamilton
    2010
  • Honourable Mention for the Short Documentary Award
    Doxa - Documentary Film and Video Festival, Vancouver
    2010
  • Audience Award
    Tricky Women International Women's Animated Film Festival, Vienna
    2010
  • Golden Dove for Best Short Documentary- with a cash prize of € 5000
    International Festival for Documentary and Animated Film, Leipzig
    2009