Our World in Our Words

Join us on Monday, December 4th, 2023, at 5:00 PM Moscow time for the screening and a lively Q&A session with the film’s director, Chris Casaceli, and speakers Cindi Swanson and Dora Uchel-Martinez, moderated by Elizabeth Pringle. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch the award-winning documentary “Our World in Our Words“ and participate in a vibrant conversation on its creation and impact. Our World In Our Words is a character-focused, slice-of-life documentary short. The film offers its audience a window into the lives of four women with various disabilities who address issues pertinent to them in their own words. What are the misconceptions that society has about people with disabilities? What issues do people with disabilities face on a day-to-day basis? How can we, as a society, contribute to building a world that is more welcoming and inclusive? Chris Casaceli’s Bio (Director): Chris began his career in 2018 as the head of Video Production at Tanglewood Productions in Reno, Nevada. At Tanglewood, he directed and produced hundreds of commercial and documentary video projects for clients in the Northern Nevada area. Over the course of his career, Chris has earned several awards for his documentary filmmaking, namely for the documentary short “Our World In Our Words“ which enjoyed a world premiere at the Breaking Down Barriers International Disability Film Festival in Moscow, Russia, screening alongside acclaimed disability movies focused like CODA, and Not Going Quietly. The short film has since screened and garnered acclaim from a number of film festivals including the Dam Short Film Festival, The CK Film Festival, and the Niagara Falls International Short Festival where it won the prize for Best Documentary Short. In 2023 Chris departed Tanglewood Productions to shift his focus toward narrative filmmaking with his producing partner, Max Georgeson. The pair officially co-founded their production company Mountain Dog Visual Media in 2023 where they intend to focus their efforts on documentary and narrative film production. Cindi Swanson is a woman who completely lost her vision around the age of 42 and currently resides in Boulder City, NV. Cindi actively advocates for improved community infrastructure regarding people with disabilities in her community and across the country. Her efforts have helped reassess ADA initiatives, improving ADA infrastructure with true accessibility in mind. Dora Uchel-Martinez is a blind activist who teaches peer-to-peer advocacy in systemic change. Dora believes that informed choices are fundamental rights and vital to making effective decisions in one’s life and, in turn, society. She is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking, a fierce community, and a Council member of various councils, boards, and commissions. In addition, Dora is a well-known resource in the community and is a fellow at Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC). Dora was awarded the Nevada Women’s Fund scholarship and is a four-time recipient of a Nevada blind organization’s scholarship.  Elizabeth Pringle, the moderator, is known for her insightful approach to dialogue and understanding of the cinematic arts.