of David and Monica's wedding from people with and without Downs syndrome. Some viewed the marriage as a "cute gesture between kids" and as Codina saw the ceremony as "something very powerful, very serious and very adult", she hoped that documenting the pair would enable people to see this perspective as well. In order to record footage Codina borrowed a digital video camera and filmed the couple and their family in the days leading up to the wedding as well as the ceremony itself. Codina recorded 30 hours of wedding related footage in addition to footage that she recorded afterwards between 2007 and 2009. After filming was complete Codina left her job as programmer for the Miami International Film Festival to focus on the production of the documentary. She pitched a nine-minute development trailer to HBO, who decided to support the endeavor. Reception Critical reception for Monica & David has been positive, and Boston.com praised Codina for the intimacy they felt with Monica, David, and their family. Variety also enjoyed the film, and commented "Neither overly sentimental nor insistently uplifting, “Monica & David,” Alexandra Codina’s confidently directed, expertly edited docu about the marriage of two people with Down syndrome, proves unexpectedly engrossing." Awards Best Documentary Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival (2010, won) Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards (2010, nominated) See also Lily: A Longitudinal View of Life with Down Syndrome References External links 2009 films Documentary films about Down syndrome 2000s English-language films American documentary films 2000s American films