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Filmmaker Ella Glendining asks: "What does it take to love yourself fiercely as a disabled person in a non-disabled world?" Born with a rare disability, Ella Glendining searches the world for another person with a body that looks like hers. In the process, she challenges society’s ableist assumptions and demonstrates the infectious joy that can come from accepting ourselves and bodies and lives - just as they are.

Synopsis

Born with a rare disability, director Ella Glendining goes on a global search for someone with a body that looks like hers. In this deeply personal and disarmingly honest documentary, she experiences a number of surprises, discovers the experience of being pregnant, and demonstrates an infectious joy for her body and life as it is. Is There Anybody Out There? challenges lazy ableist assumptions, and reminds the viewer to question the way we see others, tugging at our biases and exploring Ella's journey as she asks: "what it takes to love yourself fiercely as a disabled person in a non-disabled world?"

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Credits

Ella Glendining

Director
Image of director Ella Glendining

Ella Glendining is a writer-director dedicated to telling authentic disabled stories. She has written and directed short films with backing from Film4, the BFI, Arts Council England, Screen South, and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust. Glendining was named one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2020. She is currently writing a feature fiction film called CURIOSITIES OF FOOLS for the BFI.

Janine Marmot

Producer

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