Out of Reach
ROLE
DIRECTOR
WRITER
EDITOR
GENRE
COMEDY
YEAR
2024
FESTIVALS
HollyShorts
Slamdance
NFMLA
EDFC
Waco Independent
James and Sawsan, two disabled best friends, discover that their partners will be gone for the evening, leaving them to fend for themselves as they attempt to have a cozy night-in. Along the way they encounter obstacles that constantly set back their plans in different ways. Sawsan confidently and promptly seeks assistance from others while James denies the need for assistance and attempts to prove his independence through a number of unconventional tactics to get the job done. As the night nears its end, James and Sawsan reflect on their differing definitions of independence. After a final (and rather personal) obstacle leaves Sawsan dangling in the air, James finally sees Sawsan’s point of view and learns to ask for help.Â
Reception
The film was created as part of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge 2024 where it won the Awareness Award presented by Amazon MGM Studios and went on to garner over 150,000 views across platforms. It was also the official selection of HollyShorts, Slamdance, NFMLA, and Waco Independent Film Festivald.