Beyond the Short Official Premiere

Faulkner, a young boy with autism, attempts to do the two hardest things for a kid on the spectrum: finish his English homework, and reconnect with his older brother, Simon.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

While "Homework" arose, in part, from my own personal experiences with my brother on the autism spectrum. Yet it also served as a response to the abysmal autism representation perpetuated in the media for years, decades even. Poor autism narratives do untold damage to the perception, esteem, and wellbeing of the community. It will take much, much more work to rectify the image of autistic individuals on screen.

"Homework" is an attempt to bring authenticity to autism in film, not just in its story, but in its presentation. The camera, the lighting, the movement, all of it coalesces into the subjective worldview that makes our character who he is, irrespective of the constraints society puts on him because of his condition. But of course, it would never have been as effective were it not for our incredible autistic lead actor, Ethan Mathias, bringing the experience and knowledge of being on the spectrum into the role.

In essence, "Homework" aims to be the antithesis of the prototypical autism film. If nothing else, I hope this film spurs neurodiverse filmmakers into taking back their narratives and forging a new path with nothing but a camera and a voice.”

-Cesar Llanos