“All You Hear Is Noise” to Close MINT Film Festival

SOMT is thrilled to share that the independent documentary All You Hear Is Noise has been selected for screening at the MINT Film Festival in Billings, Montana. This fearless and moving film will be the festival’s closing feature, playing on Sunday, September 22nd, at 4 p.m. If you’re interested in attending, tickets are now available at mintfilmfestival.org.

About the Film

All You Hear Is Noise is a verité-style documentary that offers an intimate and unfiltered look into the lives of three athletes with intellectual disabilities as they navigate the complexities of life beyond the international spotlight of the Special Olympics World Games. The film follows Trent Hampton, Melanie Holmes, and Chris Wines, who traveled to Abu Dhabi to compete on the global stage at the Special Olympics World Games, and then returned home to face new challenges in employment, relationships, and independent living.

Directors Ned Castle and Matt Day make their feature debut with All You Hear Is Noise, collaborating closely with the film’s main subjects and a panel of respected disability advocacy stakeholders. This includes renowned disability rights advocates such as Judy Heumann, Loretta Claiborne, and Lawrence Carter-Long. The film honors the slogan of the disability rights movement, “Nothing About Us Without Us,” and intentionally subverts the paternalistic and saccharine portrayals that often dominate media depictions of intellectual disability (ID). Instead, it offers a fresh and honest perspective on the ID experience, challenging dominant narratives and encouraging viewers to see these athletes in a new light.

A Fresh Perspective on Disability

All You Hear Is Noise made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City in June 2023, where it garnered attention for its bold and respectful approach to storytelling. By challenging the typical representations of the ID community, the film offers a much-needed shift in perspective, presenting its subjects as multifaceted individuals with unique strengths, struggles, and stories that deserve to be heard.

As the film closes out the MINT Film Festival, it promises to leave a lasting impression on audiences, inviting them to rethink how they view intellectual disabilities and the people who live with them. Don’t miss this powerful documentary that goes beyond the games to explore what it truly means to be an athlete, a competitor, and a human being in today’s world.

Join Us

Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 22nd, at 4 p.m., and be part of this remarkable event. Get your tickets now at mintfilmfestival.org, and join us in celebrating the resilience, courage, and humanity of these incredible athletes.