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International Day of Persons with Disabilities <br> A documentary exploring the magical world of diversity on the Onassis Channel on YouTube

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In honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Onassis Foundation is capturing a thrilling portrayal of the heartfelt expression and powerful emotions of nine different people putting on a performance rooted in their lives. A workshop filled with dreams and an experiential performance is now a documentary on diversity directed by Christos Sarris.

Photo: Pinelopi Gerasimou

Inside the Onassis Library, a group of people with intellectual disabilities flick through the books of their lives. Guided by the director Georgia Mavragani, and in collaboration with ESTIA (Support & Social Care Centre for People with Intellectual Disability), the participants of the “Life Like an Open Book” workshop are now taking to the digital stage that is the Onassis Channel on YouTube. A documentary made out of personal stories and everyday moments, and their favorite texts, songs, and objects which they use to build the script, the overarching tone and, at the end of it all, a performance that is experiential, both for its leads and for the audience watching.

Each of them “open up” like a book that’s one-of-a-kind, and out jump all the things that perhaps in the end describe – be it directly or indirectly – what disability might mean. Taking some sound or a touch, words or objects or a series of snapshots as a starting point – whatever helps them express their deepest desires and most secret dreams in spontaneous and honest ways – a magical world of shared feelings slowly emerges. The camera captures a thrilling portrayal of heartfelt expression and powerful emotions born out of the dramaturgical process by means of movement, interaction, and speech.

The lights come up and the performance’s creators and leads take to the stage, seeking out the gaze – the visibility – that proves life is a unique experience of incalculable value. Look at them and, the moment the curtain falls, talk with them.

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Credits

Performance Director: Georgia Mavragani
Dramaturgy: Rania Kelaiditi

Co-organized by ESTIA (Support & Social Care Centre for People with Intellectual Disability)

ESTIA – Support & Social Care Centre for People with Intellectual Disability
ESTIA President: Efi Prokopaki
Head of Education and Training: Maria Zabertsi
Educator: Lia Prokopaki

Participants:
Elina Aligizaki
Georgia Gevezou
Sandy Gritzali
Chryssa Hadjiantonaki
Chryssa Hadjiemmanouil
Angelos Kastritsis
Maria Kitsati
Akis Klambanis
Angelos Tereziou
Olga Bouzetou (mother of Chryssa Hadjiemmanouil)

Onassis Foundation
Onassis Foundation Educational Programs Coordinator: Christina Panagiotakou
Onassis Foundation Educational Programs Assistant: Georgia Papamichail
Campaign Manager: Daniel Vergiadis
Copywriter: Margarita Grammatikou
Onassis Creative Studio
Constantinos Chaidalis

Film Credits
Director: Christos Sarris
Camera: Dimitris Zivopoulos, Evan Maragkoudakis, Konstantinos Kalavrezos
Assistant: Koralia Dogani
Sound Recording & Mix: Vassilis Zambikos
Editing: Trifonas Karatzinas
Line Production: Smaragda Dogani, Elena Choremi

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