[2] In addition to featuring films developed by and starring people with disabilities, Superfest aims to be inclusive.

[10] Superfest is held over a weekend and is considered more of a cultural event than a film festival.

[1] The Superfest International Disability Film Festival began as the Film Forum for the AAMR in the 1970s, and was supported by the University Affiliated Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles In 1976, it was taken on as a major activity by a newly created non-profit organization, the Corporation on Disability and Telecommunication (CDT).

Viewing committees were established in multiple California locations, often based at the Developmental Disability Regional Centers and eventually at other places around the country.

Both the PBS specials and BREAKING GROUND received Hollywood chapter Emmy nominations for their hosts, along with a 1987 documentary AMNESTY: THE DREAM FULFILLED?

The first Superfest awards ceremony and screening outside of Los Angeles and AAMR conventions sites, was at the Presidio in San Franciscom, hosted by Jay Leno.

[11] In 2015 Superfest expanded to a two-day festival and recognized the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act being signed into legislation.

[5] With the beginnings as a grass-roots organization, Superfest has not been able to have a film festival each year since its founding.

[3][4] Catherine Kudlick, the director of the Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University, and Bryan Bashin, CEO of LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, joined to direct Superfest starting in 2012.

Filmmakers have debuted their films at Superfest and then gone on to receive broader distribution opportunities and further success.