RestFest Film Festival is an artist-run film and video art festival & online gathering space created by/for Disabled, Deaf, chronically ill, Neurodivergent, and Mad community worldwide.
By hosting virtual gatherings and screening film/video works by fellow Disabled artists around the world, RestFest aims to show us we are not alone, but rather surrounded by Crip solidarity, Crip warmth, & Crip understanding.
All that RestFest does prioritizes rest, slowness, & care. There is never pressure to get out of bed or to look so-called “presentable” to attend events.
RestFest makes cutting edge films and video artwork accessible to the broader Disabled community worldwide, by bringing these works to streaming (aka, bed), and providing captioning and descriptive audio.
RestFest promotes free creative expression by all who are Disabled, Deaf, chronically ill, Neurodivergent, mentally ill, and/or mad. The films & video artworks screened are not necessarily about disability or illness. We share our art for each other, not in the service of educating the non-disabled.
Everyone and anyone is welcome to attend, but the essence of RestFest is that it is ultimately by & for the Disability community.
“THE festival for Crip, Mad and/or neurodivergent filmmakers/artists. A vital community space and resource that I wish had always been available to me.” - Participating Filmmaker
"RestFest is genuinely one of the coolest things I've come across from the film world since it began in 2024. There's compelling programming, with film and video work at the cutting edge of disability art. The festival operates on radical accessibility and community solidarity." - Attendee
“RestFest was a truly remarkable experience that brought our community together in such a meaningful way. The festival's thoughtful approach to meeting us exactly where we are—in terms of energy, capacity, and accessibility—created an environment where we could all feel inspired, encouraged, and valued. It was inspiring to witness and be part of a space where disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, Deaf, blind, and mad creatives could share their work and connect with one another in ways that honored our individual and collective needs. RestFest was a beautiful reminder of the power of community when we prioritize care and inclusion.” - Attendee
Learn More: https://www.restfestfilmfestival.org/