Film featuring local woman with Down Syndrome to screen at BIFF | Arts & Culture

A local filmmaker's documentary will be included in the Beloit International Film Festival, where the 61-minute film about family and unconditional love will be screened twice.

In 1957, when most babies born with developmental disabilities were institutionalized, Earl and Marion Fischer said, “No, not Mary,” against doctors' advice. When Earl and Marion died, daughter Kathy Fischer Dauck, a longtime resident of the Town of Oregon, and her sisters continued to watch after their sister Mary.

Filmmaker Frank Caruso's "This is My Sister" is about a woman with Down Syndrome and unconditional love.

The film is scheduled to be shown at the Beloit Rotary River Center on Thursday at noon and Feb. 17 at Bagels & More at 2:30 p.m. Caruso will also be on site at both screenings and audiences will be able to meet the director and participate in a question-and-answer session.

Watch a trailer for "This is My Sister"