(Info from press release)The film uncovers startling details about the Nazi Aktion T4 program and its undeniable role in the first steps of the Holocaust
"There is no way to fill the gap that Disposable Humanity makes surface"Executive produced by Steve Way (Co-star of Hulu’s Ramy), Disposable Humanity follows Cameron Mitchell’s family, who are Disability Studies scholars and filmmakers that have researched the Nazi Aktion T4 program since the 1990s. Through conversations with memorial directors, disabled people, and relatives of T4 victims, they uncover the horrifying truth: that the Nazi Aktion T4 program, was in fact the program where the Nazis trained killing staff and designed the apparatus of mass murder that led to the Holocaust. Disabled people were the first victims to be killed under the Third Reich and in this investigative documentary, the Mitchells reveal how this history has been covered over and erased from international public memory.
-Mat Fraser, American Horror Story
Mitchell said, “We are thrilled to be making our debut at a film festival, like Slamdance, which is noted for showcasing work that goes beyond basic expectations, challenges audiences on the perspectives of disability they had prior to entering the theater and offers opportunities to foster vigorous discussion about that work and the films’ subjects.” He added, “Disposable Humanity is not just a film; it is a film counter-monument. By confronting the brutal legacy of the Aktion T4 program, we seek to raise awareness about the contemporary implications of viewing individuals through a lens of disposability. It is crucial to confront these histories of erasure to ensure that such atrocities never occur again and to continue to question the dividing lines between people with disabilities and those without.”The documentary features a diverse array of international voices (Robert Jay Lifton, author of the Nazi Doctors; Patricia Heberer Rice, Senior Historian at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum; and Susanne Knittel, author of The Historical Uncanny among them) articulating the lived experiences of individuals facing societal neglect, including those living with disabilities, mental health conditions, and systemic discrimination. With powerful testimonials and striking visuals, Disposable Humanity underscores the urgent need for compassion and understanding in evaluating human worth.
According to David T. Mitchell, a producer, writer, and original researcher of the film, “The expertise of the diverse participants ensures that the film will educate viewers about people in psychiatric institutions and the historical injustices they face and also engage them in critical conversations around the rights and indignities spawned by societal neglect, abuse, and extermination involving disabled individuals today.”
Executive producer Steve Way added, “With a global population of over 1.85 billion disabled people in the world, many of whom are marginalized daily, this film is more urgent than ever. It reveals the harsh realities faced by those often deemed expendable and underscores the necessity for societal change."Mitchell, Way, additional participants in the film, and advocates for the right of people with disabilities, will attend the screening and participate in a post-screening discussion that will be aimed to use the question and answer session to promote a call-to-action toward a community-driven approach to addressing human rights and social justice.
CSM Productions is an award-winning production company documentary led by filmmaker Cameron S. Mitchel. Our mission is to raise awareness of human rights issues and provoke thought, inspire action, and foster understanding within communities through powerful storytelling.
