Loco Films has officially secured the global distribution rights for Mari Sanders' groundbreaking film 'Stand Up.' This poignant drama, which explores themes of disability and identity, is poised for its highly anticipated world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Following its debut, Loco Films will initiate international sales at the esteemed Cannes Market, marking a significant moment for the film's global reach.

The film introduces Vera, a vibrant 23-year-old whose life undergoes a profound transformation after an accident confines her to a wheelchair. As she navigates this new reality, Vera finds herself disconnected from her former life and drawn into the world of Xander, an individual who has lived with a disability from birth. Their intertwined journeys form the core narrative, challenging perceptions and fostering a deeper understanding of life with a disability.

'Stand Up' is a powerful exploration of choice and adaptation. Vera faces the arduous decision of striving to reclaim her past or embracing an unforeseen future within a community she never imagined. This central conflict drives the film's emotional depth, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of personal identity in the face of life-altering events.

Produced by Ineke Kanters and Lisette Kelder of the Dutch production company Film Kitchen, in collaboration with Amanda Livanou and Katerina Tzourou of Greece's Neda Film and Robert Kievit, 'Stand Up' is a testament to international cooperation in filmmaking. The cast features talented actors such as Lucia Zemene, Daan Buringa, Kendrick Etmon, Hana Hussein, Guy Clemens, and Tamar van den Dop, each contributing to the film's authentic portrayal of its characters.

Laurent Danielou of Loco Films praised 'Stand Up' as an emotionally resonant and powerful depiction of a young woman's journey of self-reinvention following a life-changing injury. He highlighted the film's sincerity, charm, and fresh perspective on disability representation, underscoring its importance in contemporary cinema.

Director Mari Sanders, who has lived with cerebral palsy and used a wheelchair his entire life, revealed that the film was partly inspired by a desire to increase the visibility of people with disabilities. He emphasized that 'Stand Up' aims to illuminate a frequently overlooked world: the daily lives, struggles, unique culture, and viewpoints of young individuals with disabilities. The film meticulously contrasts the experience of being born with a disability versus acquiring one later in life, and how such an event irrevocably reshapes one's identity. At its heart, the film poses a fundamental question: to what degree does a disability define who you are?

Sanders pointed out that approximately 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability, making it the world's largest minority group, yet one of the least represented on screen. His personal experiences, growing up in special education and connecting with others on similar journeys, fueled his motivation to create the film. He sought to portray a world as rich and full as any other, yet largely invisible in cinema. A crucial artistic decision for 'Stand Up' was to cast actors who genuinely live with disabilities, fostering authenticity and nurturing underrepresented talent. Sanders noted that many of these actors infused their personal experiences into the narrative, blending fictional elements with documentary-style insights to vividly and poetically depict life with a disability. Ultimately, the film stands as a celebration of vulnerability and a narrative about the continuous evolution of our bodies and its impact on our sense of self.