World Theatrical Premiere of BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY at the Enzian Theatre in Maitland: An intimate film portrait of two women determined to make a difference.

BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY, the new short documentary film directed by Academy Award nominated filmmaker Alice Elliott (The Collector of Bedford Street, Florida Film Festival 2002), will have its theatrical debut at the Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida on Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22.  Alice Elliott will be present for questions after each screening.

BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY is a rare look at an unusual relationship between two people with disabilities.  The film tells the story of Diana Braun who has Down Syndrome, and Kathy Conour who has Cerebral Palsy, and their tireless activism for the rights of people with disabilities.  Diana and Kathy met at a sheltered workshop in Illinois three decades ago and vowed to live independent, non-institutionalized lives.

Fearful of being shut away in a nursing home or forced into a state run institution, Diana and Kathy broke the rules, escaped the system, and survived to tell their story.  BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY moves beyond disability and activism to a story of a profound, creative friendship. Told in an intimate, verite style, the film allows the viewer into a private world and sweeps us up into a way of life rarely seen on the big screen.

BODY & SOUL: DIANA & KATHY will be preceded by Cynthia Wade’s acclaimed short film FREEHELD.  Screenings take place at 12:30 pm at the Enzian Theater, 1300 South Orlando Avenue in Maitland, www.enzian.org.  Admission Price: $6.00.

For more information about Diana Braun and Kathy Conour and the film please visit www.dianaandkathy.com

Alice Elliott's films remind us that people with intellectual disabilities often face a daunting array of challenges just to live day to day, and give us all a valuable perspective on what our athletes' lives can be like outside of Special Olympics.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly.