WATCH TRAILER

Neurodivergent

Directed by Afton Quast Saler

US | 2022 | 25 minutes | Color | DVD | English | Order No. W221300 |

In this profoundly personal mixed-media experience inside the ADHD mind, a 35-year-old film student interrogates her past and future, while trying to make sense of this misunderstood disorder.

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SYNOPSIS

In this profoundly personal mixed media experience inside the ADHD mind, NEURODIVERGENT (dir. Afton Quast Saler) follows the filmmaker’s journey as she discovers her ADHD diagnosis during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. From Post-it notes to magnets, keys, pens, rubber bands, and receipts, the unorganized chaos of a junk drawer is the perfect representation of what Afton Quast Saler’s brain feels like every day. Growing up, she knew she wasn’t like the other kids but never really understood why, and doctors didn’t seem to be much help. She was diagnosed with depression, anxiety, rapid cycle bipolar, fibromyalgia, addiction disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, insomnia, and dyslexia – but none of those diagnoses felt right.

In March 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and in her third year at USC School of Cinematic Arts, Afton underwent extensive psychological tests and was diagnosed with something she never even considered: ADHD. In a unique way of coping with this new information, she courageously decides to put herself in front of the camera and, with the help of her husband, Jesse, documents this very personal journey. Her bible soon becomes the 1995 book, Women with Attention Deficit Disorder: Embrace Your Differences and Transform Your Life, as she learns that she is not the only young girl to have silently suffered in school. In fact, women with ADHD are more often under-diagnosed than men, as well as commonly misdiagnosed and treated for anxiety and mood disorders as primary diagnoses. Finally feeling understood, Afton is thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the author of the book and superstar advocate in the ADHD world, Sari Solden. With Sari’s help, Afton recognizes that her life-long pattern of negative thoughts and feelings were not the result of the learning disability itself but rather the shame of not being able to fully inhabit her genuine self.

NEURODIVERGENT is a great addition to courses in Psychology, Psychiatry, Public Health, Women’s Studies, Sociology, Education, Documentary Studies, and more.

PRESS

"Afton Quast Saler gives us a firsthand experience of receiving an ADHD diagnosis, vulnerably making herself the subject of her own story and uncovering a largely underrepresented one – women with ADHD are less likely to receive treatment than men. Stylish animation and bold editing choices give us a glimpse of what her brain thinks and feels, adding intelligence and heart. I happily accept the invitation to join Afton on this emotional ride, and I encouraged you to as well."

Lauren Reid Brown, Head Programmer of Salute Your Shorts Film Festival 2021

"In a personal and insightful mixed-media experience inside the ADHD mind. A 35-year-old film student is diagnosed with ADHD leading to questions about her past and future, while trying to make sense of this misunderstood disorder.”

KCET Press

"Neurodivergent" is a highly personal documentary about the inner workings of Saler’s mind following her diagnosis of ADHD as an adult woman.”

Mustang News

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Jury's Choice Female Director, DGA Student Film Awards
  • Audience Choice Award, Honorable Mention Student Film, Honorable Mention Documentary, Salute Your Shorts Film Festival
  • Audience Choice Award, The Film Series at Cine Gear Expo
  • Best Documentary Short, Audience Choice Award, Portland Film Festival
  • Audience Choice Award, Awareness Film Festival
  • New Filmmakers LA DocuSlate, Best Documentary Short Honorable Mention
  • Vituruvian Award (Finalist), Davinci International Film Festival
  • Best Student Film, San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
  • Jury's Choice Award, Thomas Edison Film Festival
  • Best Documentary Short, Fine Cut Festival of Films
  • Best Documentary Short, Sight + Sound Festival
  • DGA Student Film Awards
  • Salute Your Shorts Film Festival
  • The Film Series at Cine Gear Expo
  • Portland Film Festival
  • Awareness Film Festival
  • New FilmmakersLA DocuSlate
  • Davinci International Film Festival
  • San Luis Obispo International Film Festival
  • Thomas Edison Film Festival
  • Fine Cut Festival of Films
  • Sight + Sound Festival
  • Pasadena International Film Festival
  • ReelAbilities Pittsburgh Film Festival
  • San Diego International Film Festival
  • Newport Beach Film Festival
  • La Femme International Film Festival
  • Sedona International Film Festival
  • Cleveland International Film Festival
  • Florida Film Festival
  • Athens International Film and Video Festival
  • Ashland Independent Film Festival
  • Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
  • DocEdge International Film Festival
  • Not Film Fest
  • Au Contraire Film Festival

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Afton Quast Saler

Afton grew up in Anaheim, California, where she started her professional acting career at 13 years old. She has toured the U.S. and Europe with The Young Americans, an educational outreach and performing group, as well as working in regional theaters across the country, including New York, California, Utah, and Maine, to name a few. She trained acting at the T. Schreiber Studio in New York City, BGB Studios in Los Angeles, and sketch comedy at Second City Hollywood, where she would discover the purest reflection of herself in a passion for writing, directing, and creating her own work.

Since moving back to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and graduating with a degree in production, Afton has continued to work in both film and theatre. Afton directed the Encore Award-winning production of Cheek (and other stories) at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, directed and co-wrote the pilot for the TV Series Emmiething Goes, as well as directed and wrote the HFPA Center for Cinema & Television award-winning short film, Brothel Sprouts.

Most recently, Afton has gained recognition for directing and writing her short USC thesis documentary, Neurodivergent, combining her passion for mental health awareness and the arts. The film has played over 30 film festivals worldwide, winning Best Documentary at Portland Film Festival, San Louis Obispo Film Festival, USC’s First Look Awards, and receiving the Jury Prize for Best Female Director at the DGA Student Film Awards. 

Currently, she lives and freelances in Pasadena, CA, with her husband Jesse, their dog Johanna, and the wild parrots that live in the tree outside their window. (10/22)

View Press Kit


Credits: 

Director: Afton Quast Saler 
Producer: Reagan Shea, Rachel Priebe 

Cinematographer: Yifan Yin Huang  

Additional Cinematographer: Jesse Saler 
Editor: Sydney Taylor, Kaitlin Peters 

Sound Design & Mix: Rebecca Grass 

Original Music: Scott Johnson 

Animation by: Alice On and Yifan Yin Huang 
 

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