Celebrating the best in BC film,the 25th annual BC Leo Awards honoured Doing the Impossible – The Story of the Developmental Disabilities Association with three awards at this year’s gala event at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver on Saturday, July 8th, 2023.
Our documentary, created by filmmaker DDA David Ozier and Executive Producer Alanna Hendren, was nominated for four Leos in the Short Documentary category: Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Screenwriting, and Best Short Documentary. It won all but the Best Short Documentary award.
“Winning three Leo awards is hugely validating of all the hard work myself and a small team put into Doing the Impossible,” says David Ozier. “But what’s really significant about awards like these is that they help get the film noticed. We made the film to be seen – it’s an important story that all of us should be more aware of.”
“Heartbreaking, heartwarming, disturbing, inspiring, we should all still be cheering on the people who did the impossible and made the world a better place for not just for people with developmental disabilities but for all of us.”
Sharing the award for Best Editing is Vancouver industry veteran Eddie O.
“It’s been more than 20 years since Eddie and I both got Leo nominations on the same film, a film that was my first documentary,” adds Ozier. “Eddie became a mentor and we started a friendship that continues to this day. Sharing a Leo Award with him after all these years is extra, extra special.”
“This film has exceeded all my expectations,” says Executive Producer Alanna Hendren. “We are all about reaching for the stars at DDA and we caught 3 of them at the Leo’s on Saturday night!”
Doing the Impossible tells the story of one mother’s bold choice in 1952 not to institutionalize her child and challenge the status quo led to the formation of an organization that would impact the lives of thousands and inspire generations to fight for human rights. The growth of the Developmental Disabilities Association and the pioneering families it involved would significantly change Canada’s legal and social landscape for people with developmental disabilities for generations to come.
The see a clip of the evening events, go here.
