UNFIT: WARD VS. WARD (74MIN, USA)
DIRECTOR: EDWIN SCHARLAU III, KATHERINE CARMICHAEL, PENNY EDMISTON
CHICAGO PREMIERE
Who is more fit to raise a child: a convicted killer or a lesbian? According to one judge in Florida, the convicted killer. UNFIT: Ward vs Ward follows the true story of Mary Ward who lost custody of her eleven year old daughter because she was a lesbian. The judge decided that the father was a more fit parent even though he had served nine years for murdering his first wife, did not know what grade his daughter was in or what school she attended, and had only spent four consecutive days with his daughter in the previous five years. No one could have imagined the firestorm that would ensue and the tragic consequences the judge's decision would have on the lives of everyone involved.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5nxQHxDUoU&feature=player_embedded
DIRECTOR: KELSIE KILEY
CHICAGO PREMIERE
Carolyn and Kiel Twietmeyer from Joliet, IL, have chosen to double the size of their family in a most inspiring way. The Twietmeyers started their non-profit organization, Project HOPEFUL in 2007. Project HOPEFUL advocates for the adoption of children with special needs. Two student filmmakers document the everyday lives of three not-so-typical American families: the Twietmeyers, Heims, and Allens. Their unique story has been a topic for discussion worldwide. As they challenge the common conceptions of disease and disorders, they encourage viewers to redefine the average American family.