THE MOVIE
Winner of 28 film festival awards, Darius Goes West is a powerful, poignant and hilarious film that has been viewed and shared by millions of people throughout the world.
Accompanied by his eleven best friends, Darius Weems, a fifteen-year-old living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), leaves home for the first time in his life. This rowdy crew sets a course for California, where they hope to convince MTV to customize Darius's wheelchair on the hit show, Pimp My Ride. Along the way, they find joy, brotherhood, and the knowledge that life, even when imperfect, is always worth the ride. They also unknowingly leave a nationwide grassroots movement in their wake.
The film was directed, edited and scored by Logan Smalley. Watch the full movie credits here.
The Movement
Darius Goes West (DGW) — a nonprofit, independent film and organization — has raised over $2.5 million for Duchenne muscular dystrophy research to date.
One study that DGW funded went on to become the first FDA approved treatment for DMD in history. To learn more about Darius Goes West’s mission and the movement it inspired, watch this video.
The Crew
Original Crew
Andrew Carson - Daniel Epting (Driver) - John Hadden (Camera) - John Harmon - Jason Hees (Sound) - Sam Johnson - Collin Shepley (Sound) - Ben Smalley - Logan Smalley (Director) - Darius Weems - Kevin Weir (Photo) - Dylan Wilson (Camera)
Extended Crew
Amble Johnson - Mo Mohammad - Duddy Ken (aka "Dirt," rap artist) - Chris Williams - Cedric Curry - Barbara Smalley - Darius Weems
Awards
As of June 2009, the film had won an unprecedented 28 film festival awards, and at the Tribeca Film Festival it was the only film chosen by Robert De Niro to screen at his children’s school during the festival. Among the awards won at film festivals are:
2007, won Audience Award for Best Feature at AFI Dallas International Film Festival
2007, won Audience Award for Best Feature at Atlanta Film Festival
2007, won Audience Award for Best Documentary at Palm Beach International Film Festival
2007, won Audience Choice Award for Best Feature at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
2007, won Best Film at Cleveland International Film Festival
2007, won Standing Up Film Competition at Cleveland International Film Festival
2007, won Audience Award for Best Feature at Independent Film Festival of Boston
2007, won Audience Award for Best Feature at Oxford Film Festival
2007, won Best Documentary at Oxford Film Festival
2007, won Audience Choice Award for Best Feature at Jackson Hole Film Festival
2007, won Cowboy Award for Best Documentary at Jackson Hole Film Festival
2007, won Audience Award for Best Documentary at Omaha Film Festival
2007, won Jury Award for Best Documentary at Omaha Film Festival
2007, won Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at Solstice Film Festival
Emmy Award nomination
2008, won Grand Prize at The Christophers student film competition
Won Jury Award for Best Documentary at Real to Reel International Film Festival
Won Audience Choice Award at East Lansing Film Festival
Won Jury Award for Best Documentary at Longbaugh Film Festival
Won Jury Award for Best Feature at Sunscreen Film Festival
Won Audience Choice Award for Best Feature at Sunscreen Film Festival
Won Jury Merit Award at Superfest International Disability Film Festival
Won Audience Choice Award at Berkshire International Film Festival
Won Jury Award for Best Documentary at Sidewalk Film Festival
Won Audience Choice Award at Sidewalk Film Festival
Won Audience Choice Award at Ojai Film Festival
Won Youth Jury Award for Best Documentary at Viewfinders International Film Festival for Youth
Won Runner Up for Best Documentary at BiNational Film Festival
Won Jury Honorable Mention for Best Documentary at Picture This Film Festival