This feature documentary follows a number of women with disabilities as they affirm their right to seek, develop and sustain intimate relationships with the partners of their choice. In this moving one-hour film, four disabled women from across Canada share their personal experiences, with particular emphasis on sexuality, self-esteem, stereotyping, and parenting.

For the first screening of the year, Desire in Motion is excited to present the documentary TOWARD INTIMACY directed by Newfoundland filmmaker Debbie McGee. This film was produced by Studio D, the women’s unit of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) at the time and the world’s first publicly funded feminist filmmaking studio. In this uplifting and empowering doc, four women with disabilities from across Canada speak openly about their sexuality and perspectives on love, sex, activism, self-esteem, stereotyping, and parenting.

In the early 1990s, it was rare to find documentaries that explored the intersection of sexuality and disability, so the project was born after Helen Spurrel, one of the film’s subjects, and her support group decided to make one themselves. After 18 months of research by director Debbie McGee and members of Spurrel’s group, they enlisted the DisAbled Women’s Network (DAWN) Canada to help find interview subjects, identify issues, and evaluate the direction of the film. -JACOB CREPEAULT

Before the screening, Alethea Bakogeorge (she/her), Director of Programs & Development at the Disability Screen Office, will introduce the film. Alethea is a physically disabled access professional, fundraiser, and actor with cerebral palsy. She has worked across the country in fundraising and access at organizations including the National accessArts Centre and The Musical Stage Company. She is in-demand as an accessibility consultant and has taught and lectured across North America on disability representation in the performing arts, access and accommodations, and disability-inclusive organizational change. Alethea maintains an active acting career as a physically disabled voiceover and theatre actor. She lives in Toronto.

This screening will be presented with open captions and will include a pre-recorded Q&A with director Debbie McGee after the film. Masking is strongly encouraged to ensure that all attendees feel as safe as possible.