MN UCEDD Films Receive Awards in NYC

May 31, 2016

The films "Of the Community" and "ICI: 30 Years of Innovation, Collaboration, and Influence," released by the Institute on Community Integration (ICI), were recognized at the 22nd Annual Communicator Awards in New York City on April 26. "Of the Community" was among the recipients of the 2016 Award of Excellence (Gold Award) in the Video/Film - Social Issues category, and also received the Award of Distinction (Silver Award) in the Film/Video - Documentary category. "ICI: 30 Years of Innovation, Collaboration, and Influence" was among the recipients of the Award of Distinction (Silver Award) in the Film/Video - Education Institutions category.

The awards, given by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, honor creative excellence for communication professionals. "Screenings at film festivals and awards ceremonies provide an external validation of our work, but more importantly they offer outreach to broader audiences, helping us to share stories of and by people with intellectual disabilities beyond those working in the field," says Jerry Smith, producer of the films and head of RTC Media in ICI's Research and Training Center on Community Living.