FORT SMITH, AR (KTUL) — Oklahoma filmmaker Carley Marissa Dummitt won the top prize for Best Overall Film at the Fort Smith International Film Festival this past weekend with “Surviving the Spectrum,” a short documentary produced by the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma.
The film also received the Best Short Documentary award, marking a significant moment of recognition for both Oklahoma’s creative community and the autism advocacy movement.
“Surviving the Spectrum” spotlights the lives of Oklahomans with autism, offering a raw and unflinching look at the intersection between autism and suicide, a topic rarely addressed in mainstream media. The documentary amplifies the voices of autistic individuals and advocates, shedding light on the ways mental health conditions often overlap with life on the spectrum.
“This film was created to open a dialogue that desperately needs to happen,” said Dummitt, who was the documentary’s director. “By sharing these deeply personal stories, we hope to break stigma, foster understanding, and promote the inclusion and advocacy that people on the spectrum deserve.”
The film not only examines the challenges faced by autistic individuals but also celebrates their resilience through intimate interviews and thoughtful storytelling. “Surviving the Spectrum” challenges stereotypes and invites viewers to consider the urgency of mental health support for the neurodivergent community.
“Winning this award is an incredible honor, but the real victory is in the awareness this film brings,” said Emily Scott, executive director of the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma. “Surviving the Spectrum gives voice to a part of the autism community that is too often overlooked—the individuals and families navigating both autism and serious mental health challenges. Our hope is that this recognition sparks conversations, drives change, and reminds people that inclusion means supporting the whole person, in every part of their journey.”
Following its success, “Surviving the Spectrum” will continue its run on the film festival circuit before being made available for educational licensing to schools, advocacy organizations, and community groups nationwide.
For more information about “Surviving the Spectrum” or to learn about the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma’s mission, visit AutismFoundationOK.org.
