FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berkshire County Arc
395 South Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Over 175 Attend Berkshire County Arc’s Sprout Film Festival
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (March 23, 2017) – On Sunday, March 12, more than 175 moviegoers attended the 2017 10th Berkshire County Sprout Film Festival at Berkshire Community College’s Robert Boland Theatre in Pittsfield, Mass. The event was hosted by Berkshire County Arc’s Down Syndrome Family Group. The Down Syndrome Family Group is comprised of over 30 families throughout Berkshire County, working to advocate for and educate the public about Down Syndrome and people with disabilities. The Festival featured 11 films about individuals with various disabilities, their lives and personal achievements.
The Festival opened with the film “Be My Brother,” a story about an aspiring actor who challenges the prejudices of a stranger at a bus stop and his own struggles with acceptance from his brother being embarrassed by him in public.
“Go Jackson Doll,” was another film that hit home for attendees. With Autism Awareness Month coming up in April, this film was the perfect segway. Jackson, a 9-year-old boy with Autism, is enrolled in ice skating by his mother. The struggles she faces as a parent each week they enter the rink all become worth it in the end when she sees the look of sheer happiness on his face as he glides across the ice. Through acceptance and the safe environment created by the other parents and teachers at the rink, Jackson and his family find so much joy.
The Festival ended with a series of four movies about love; solidifying the fact that those with developmental disabilities experience the same feelings, questions and thoughts about love as everyone else.
A reception catered by Berkshire Community College followed the Film Festival, featuring photography from local artists with disabilities. All proceeds from the event support children, adults and families of Berkshire County residents with and impacted by Down syndrome.
About Berkshire County Arc
Founded in 1954, Berkshire County Arc is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization providing a broad range of community-based services to 650 individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and autism throughout Berkshire and Hampden Counties in Massachusetts. The agency offers three day programs, 37 residential programs, employment services, citizen- and self-advocacy programs, respite services, an adult family care program and Zip ‘N Sort Mail Services. For more information, media professionals may contact Katrina Cardillo at 413-499-4241, ext. 254 or kcardillo@bcarc.org, or visit https://bcarc.org.
About BCArc Down Syndrome Family Group
The Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group is comprised of families throughout Berkshire County, working to advocate for and educate the public about Down syndrome and people with disabilities. Members of the group offer support to one another by helping families access resources through local and state agencies, hosting an annual Buddy Walk of the Berkshires, sponsoring speakers on all areas of Down syndrome and by socializing at fun family events. For more information about the Down Syndrome Family Group, visit https://bcarc.org/down-syndrome-family-group/about-dsfg/.
Contact:
Katrina Cardillo
Director of Marketing & Development
413-499-4241 ext. 254
kcardillo@bcarc.org
