Murderball, a film about wheelchair athletes that has garnered numerous awards and nominations, including Audience and Special Jury awards for best documentary at Sundance last year, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature this morning in Los Angeles. The Academy Awards will be presented March 5 in Los Angeles.
The documentary chronicles two years in the lives of several members of the archrival United States and Canadian Paralympic quad rugby teams, culminating in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. Quad rugby, invented as “murderball” in the 1970s by quadriplegics undergoing rehabilitation in a Canadian hospital, is a contact sport that borrows from rugby, basketball and football and is now played by wheelchair athletes all over the world. The film has won wide praise for showing people with disabilities as complex human beings with flaws, strengths and surprising abilities. Stars Mark Zupan and Keith Cavill are members of United Spinal Association, a national disability rights organization for people with spinal cord disabilities.
On Wednesday, February 15, 2006, United Spinal Association celebrates United SpinKeith Cavill signing movie posters at United Spinal’s national headquarters. al Day at the Bulova Corporate Center in Jackson Heights, Queens, with a special presentation and private screening of Murderball. Cavill will be on hand to talk about his part in the movie, which follows him through rehabilitation after a motocross accident to his exuberant introduction to quad rugby. He will also talk about his active relationship with United Spinal Association and about being a member of the United Spinal Jets quad rugby team. Cavill’s presentation can be seen at 12:30 p.m. and at 1:30 p.m. Free movie passes to a special private screening of Murderball at 5 p.m. that day are also available. The public is welcome to attend either event, but seating is limited and an RSVP is required. Donations appreciated. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Donna Fredericksen at (718) 803-3782, ext 283.
United Spinal Association acknowledges the Bulova Corporate Center and Gotte’s Café for their generous support of the events on February 15th. The Bulova Corporate Center is home to United Spinal Association’s national headquarters and is located at 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY.
