The topic of disability representation is close to Adrian Esposito’s heart, since he is himself a part of the disability community. Adrian has autism. His life experiences bring a unique perspective to his films that resonate with many people facing similar challenges in life.
Inspired by his love of film, Adrian began to take classes at Rochester’s Animation Workshop when he was twelve years old.
In an interview with Gannett’s Jim Memott, the writer observed, “this study opened a door for him. He found a way to express himself using the vocabulary and the medium of film.” In 2008, Adrian received his certificate in Radio & Television Broadcasting from Monroe #1 BOCES EMCC.
Adrian feels that his autism works well with his filmmaking. “People with this disorder tend to hyper focus on an area of interest, my interest area has always been movies,” says Adrian.
Adrian is an advocate for people with disabilities. Winner of the 2015 NYSARC Self Advocate of the Year award as well as the 2015 Western Region Conference Self Advocate of the Year, Adrian has been a presenter and keynote speaker at Self Advocacy events.
Adrian’s work has gained international recognition. He won the prestigious 2015 NYSARC Self-Advocate of the Year Award, and was honored to be the recipient of the ARC National Executives 2016 NCE Lifetime Achievement Award in filmmaking. In 2016, he was named “Filmmaker of the Year” at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival and his film Diffability Hollywood won as Best Documentary Feature at the same festival.
His films have also won the Los Angeles Red Nation Film Festival Courage Award twice, and his film We Can Shine: From Institutions to Independence was named Best Documentary. He is a spokesperson for self-advocates, helping the world accept people with disabilities as capable and thus seeing their disabilities as “diffabilities.”
Adrian is available as a speaker. Please write for more information: espocinema@rochester.rr.com
ADRIAN ESPOSITO FILMOGRAPHY:
Special Needs Revolt (2025)
Narrative feature
Directed by Adrian Esposito, Co-written by Adrian Esposito, Curt Markham, and Bill Weeden
A bold depiction of a group of developmentally disabled individuals fighting back against a tyrannical regime in a dystopian America.
- Spirit Award, 2025 Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival
- WTF Award for Feature Film, 2024 Amazing Fantasy Film Fest
Nickel City Tinseltown: History of Buffalo NY Filmmaking (2025)
Documentary feature
Co-directed by Adrian Esposito and Curt Markham
From the very first movie theater in the US, to the filming of The Natural and Buffalo 66, to a 21st-century boom in grassroots independent cinema, Buffalo is full of local talent, and Hollywood is taking notice.
- Best Documentary, 2024 Amazing Fantasy Film Fest
Clowns in the Woods (2021)
Narrative feature
Co-directed and co-written by Adrian Esposito and Curt Markham
A young man with a disability returns from the grave as a killer clown to exact revenge on those who have wronged him.
- Best Horror Feature, 2021 The Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival
- Off Beat Cinema Award, Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival
- Honorable Mention, LA Horror Fest
Reed Unbound: The Joel M Reed Story (2019)
Documentary feature
Co-directed by Adrian Esposito and Jerry Landi
Everything you ever wanted to know about Joel M. Reed, the creator of the cult classic film Bloodsucking Freaks.
- Best Documentary, 2019 Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival
- Best Documentary, 2019 WNY Film, Art and Music Event (FAME)
The Rochester Lithuanians (2020)
Documentary feature
Directed by Kristina Nomeika, shot and and edited by Adrian Esposito
The experiences of “Displaced Persons” of Lithuania as they fled their homeland, arrived in America and settled in Rochester, NY. Produced for the Lithuanian Heritage Society of Rochester.
Greetings From Tromaville! (2017)
Documentary feature
Directed by Adrian Esposito
A documentary following the life and work of independent film champion, Lloyd Kaufman. Lloyd, along with his partner Michael Herz, founded Troma Entertainment in 1974. The company has produced edgy, bold, humorous, and sometimes “over the top” films for more then 40 years.
- Best Documentary Feature, 2018 Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival
- Official Selection, 2018 Mad Monster Fest
- Best Director, 2018 Horrorhound Film Fest, New Jersey Con and Film Festival
- Official Selection, 2018 Shock Stock, London, Ontario, CA.
Diffability Hollywood (2016)
Documentary feature
Directed by Adrian Esposito
A documentary about Hollywood’s portrayal of people with disabilities in films throughout history. The film advocates for disabilities to be portrayed in a less stereotypical way, as well as for more inclusion of writers, directors and actors with disabilities into the movie industry.
- Official selection, 2017 North Hollywood Cinefest
- Theatrical screening, 2017 Move to Include Screening presented by PBS-WXXI
- Best Documentary Feature, 2017 Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival
Inner Healing: Journey with Native Trees of Knowledge (2014)
Documentary feature
Directed by Adrian Esposito
Filmmaker Adrian Esposito shares his own search for understanding, healing and acceptance of his autism through Native American spirituality. Here he turns to Native American beliefs for helpful ways to deal with the disabilities he faces. With the information given to him by different healers and his own therapist, he discovers things that will help him through his struggles.
- Red Courage Award, 2014 Red Nation Film Festival, Los Angeles
- Nuwati “Good Medicine” Film Award, 2014 Native American Indian Film & Video Festival of the Southeast Columbia, South Carolina
Bury My Heart with Tonawanda (2013)
Narrative feature
Directed by Gary Sundown, written and edited by Adrian Esposito
Bury My Heart with Tonawanda tells the fictional story of developmentally disabled young man rejected by his family and shunned by 19th century society, but accepted and nurtured to adulthood by the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. The film also examines Seneca culture, beliefs, and myths, and challenges historical stereotypes about Native Americans.
- Best Western New York Film, 2013 Buffalo Niagara Film Festival
- Audience Award, 2013 Buffalo Niagara Film Festival
- Best Directorial Debut of a Feature Film, 2013 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, Los Angeles
- Audience Award for a Feature Film, 2013 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, Los Angeles
- Red Courage Award, 2013 Red Nation Film Festival, Los Angeles
- Best Dramatic Feature, 2013 Native American Indian Film & Video Festival of the Southeast Columbia, South Carolina
- Best Directorial Debut, 2013 Native American Indian Film & Video Festival of the Southeast Columbia, South Carolina
- Best Cinematography, 2013 Native American Indian Film & Video Festival of the Southeast Columbia, South Carolina
- Audience Award, 2014 Hollywood & Vine Film Festival Los Angeles
Liberation Unit (2011)
Documentary feature
Directed, shot, and edited by Adrian Esposito
Interviews with survivors of the Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp and the U.S. soldiers who liberated them.
We Can Shine: From Institutions to Independence (2010)
Documentary feature
Directed, shot, and edited by Adrian Esposito
A documentary dealing with the treatment of the developmentally disabled in institutions, most notably, Willowbrook State School in Staten Island. The agonizing story is told by survivors who managed to succeed in life in spite of their past abuses in institutions.
- Official Selection, 2010 “360 | 365” George Eastman House Film Festival
- Best Young Documentary Filmmaker, 2010 Breaking Down Barriers International Disability Film Festival, Sochi and Moscow, Russia
- Best documentary Film, 2011 Buffalo Niagara Film Festival
- Best of Fest Feature Documentary, 2011 Love Unlimited Film Festival Portland, Oregon
- Official Selection, 2013 London Eco-Film Festival
Aging Trees of Knowledge ll: Command of Sankofa, Servant Leader (2009)
Documentary feature
Directed, shot, and edited by Adrian Esposito
A look at African American history in Rochester, NY, told through the perspective of Dr. David Anderson, a respected African American historian.
- Official Selection, 2009 Urban Mediamakers Film Festival, Atlanta, Georgia
Aging Trees of Knowledge (2008)
Documentary feature
Directed, shot, and edited by Adrian Esposito
A documentary about survivors of the Holocaust and difficulties engendered by World War II.
Espocinema 