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My Feral Heart screens in Wotton-under-Edge on Down Syndrome Day

Tuesday 21 March 2017 marks the 12th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. On this day events take place around the world to celebrate individuals with Down Syndrome (DS).

To commemorate World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), on March 21st the Down Syndrome Research Foundation UK (DSRF UK)* and Don't Screen Us Out (DSUO)** are proudly presenting over fifty last-chance screenings of the acclaimed British film My Feral Heart (12A), which features Steven Brandon, an actor who has Down Syndrome, in the lead role. The film will be showing at the Electric Picture House, Wotton-under-Edge at 5pm.

Steven received two BIFA nominations, a National Film Awards nomination, and universal praise from film critics for his central performance. BBC Film Critic, Mark Kermode called his portrayal of Luke ‘absolutely terrific’.

A sudden bereavement throws Luke, a fiercely independent young man with Down syndrome, into a daunting new environment where he finds unexpected support from his feisty, streetwise carer and a local heir dealing with his own demons. As friendships bloom and long-buried secrets are revealed, Luke verges dangerously close to disaster.

My Feral Heart illustrates how we all face challenges regardless of our background, and genetic make-up. Its success as a film about ‘ability’ not ‘disability’ has meant that the international DS community, and especially DSUO’s thousands of supporters, have connected passionately with the film. The film won hearts and minds from Cornwall to The Shetlands as it smashed all previous ourscreen records to become the ‘people powered cinema’ site’s top performing film of all time.

Tickets cost £8.50 (including a £1 donation to DSRF UK) and can currently only be booked online through www.ourscreen.com/screening/43280. Tickets will also be available at the Electric Picture House on the day of the screening.

*Down Syndrome Research Foundation UK is the only UK charity seeking to carry out therapeutic research for people with Down syndrome to help improve the quality of their lives.

**Don’t Screen Us Out is an umbrella campaign aiming to stop prenatal discrimination and ensure that the rights of people living with Down’s syndrome are respected by everyone. 

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