Reviews and Festivals
"An honest and frequently joyful look at living a challenging life, this inspiring film could initiate discussions of learning differences, perseverance, innovation, and kindness toward others."
— School Library Journal
"Recommended. Unspoken is worth viewing. It provides a fascinating glimpse into a unique style of communication and engages viewers effectively by allowing the protagonist/subject to speak for herself...Inspirational and enlightening. It will likely be most relevant to those in the fields of communication studies, speech language pathology, autism studies, and special education."
— Educational Media Reviews Online
"The cinematography maintains a sensory delight of both auditory and visual texture, vibrance, color, reverberation, and echo...This is not voyeurism. This is celebration...By producing this spirited representation of autism, non-fluent speaking, and use of facilitated communication - Emma and the entire 'Unspoken' documentary team have committed themselves to activism in preservation of the human right to communication access."
— Rua M. Williams, Canadian Journal of Disability Studies
"Framed through the lens that is uniquely Emma's, this groundbreaking film allows audiences to experience her non-fluent speaker's world as she does... in 'hi-res, technicolr and surround sound'. In 26 impactful minutes, the joyful teen delivers an 'alternate view of autism' that's opening minds and stirring hearts...Perspective-shifting and audience-moving film"
— Women You Should Know
"In just 26 minutes, UNSPOKEN shows us how real, first-person media can shift perceptions and breakdown age-old stigma...Ultimately, Emma's vulnerability shows us that although the voices of autistic and disabled people may look or sound different, they matter equally. In this way, her story highlights the immense power of self-advocacy, putting forth a call to action for all viewers -- to have radical empathy, respect and acceptance for everyone, no matter one's ability or identity."
— i-D
"An intimate and soulful window into the complex challenges facing a young student and her family, Unspoken is a testament to the importance of artistic expression and a beautiful lesson on the value of determination, creativity, and fearlessness. Emma, Geneva, and Julia are wonderful ambassadors of this powerful true story, a film that everybody should seek out."
— Sterling Hedgpeth, Programming Manager, Mill Valley Film Festival
"The film resonated strongly with the SXSW EDU community...I am certain many who were lucky enough to see the film and hear from Emma firsthand took away invaluable tools to use when working with students in their communities."
— Sophie Stuart, SXSW EDU Festival Programming Manager
"Emma is an open and vital subject who draws viewers into her experience, and offers a unique perspective on what's really important in communication. She is luminous, and her words will open minds to the experiences and contributions of non-speaking people."
— Liviya Mendelsoh, Director of Accessibility and Inclusion/Artistic Director, ReelAbilities
"Unspoken is, quite possibly, one of the most important short films of our time. Co-directed by a preternaturally smart, young autistic woman, Unspoken gives us a glimpse into what it's really like to live with Autism and gain a clearer understanding of this often-misunderstood community. Through this extraordinary film, we realize that Autism is not an affliction, but merely, a vital and beautifully relevant perspective to the world."
— Katie Flynn, Senior Writer, Havas
"Unspoken provided me with new insight into the mind of one diagnosed with Autism. I self-reflected on my own thoughts about my students and how they may view the world. This film provided me with a new perspective towards not only my teaching but how others diagnosed with Autism navigate the world around them."
— Mark Corallo, Speech Supervisor/District 75 overseeing Brooklyn schools
"Unspoken is the most powerful documentary that we have ever experienced. As parents of a non-verbal autistic child, it truly shook us to our core. It gave us optimism and a deep belief that our son will find his voice. After watching Unspoken, we were inspired to find a therapist who specializes in RPM. As a result of this, our son has found his voice and is now able to share it with the world. Thank you Unspoken for giving us, and other families such as ours, hope!"
— Butterfly and Alex Cayley
WINNER
Astoria NY Film Festival, ZUKOR Award Winner
TASH Film Festival, Positive Images in the Media
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Slamdance Film Festival
Mill Valley Film Festival
TASH Film Festival
SXSW EDU
ReelAbilities Film Festival
Albuquerque Film and Music Experience
SCREENED AT
GirlUp (UN) World Summit 2019
Retro Report
Global Citizen
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