[:en]2019 Festival Schedule[:] – Reelabilities Streaming

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Schedule

Our full list of films and events is listed under “Films” and “Events”.

You can see the schedule under “Films by Date” or “Films by Venues”.

For brochure in graphic and text versions, click below:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF BROCHURE

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TEXT BROCHURE

11TH ANNUAL REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL: NEW YORK
April 2-9, 2019

FEATURES
OPENING NIGHT GALA – Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements
Dir. Irene Taylor Brodsky
90 min, USA, Documentary
The stories of Jonas, a boy born with genetic deafness who grew up with cochlear
implants, and his aging deaf grandfather, who debates the use of this technology. Both
at turning points in their lives, they set forth on a intergenerational journey which
explores silence, deafness, and Beethoven’s legendary composition written the year that
he became deaf. Premiered at Sundance 2019 and produced by HBO. Preceded by red
carpet at 6:30 pm.

Tue, Apr 2, 7 pm @ Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Opening Night Leadership:

Lynn Bartner-Wiesel + Elisha Wiesel, co-chair
Michelle + Jeff Feig, co-chair
Jordana + David Manzano, advisory council chair

CLOSING NIGHT – The Drummer and the Keeper
Dir. Nick Kelly
93 min, Ireland, Narrative
Gabriel is a drummer in a promising band, desperate to hide his bipolar diagnosis from his
exasperated band mates. At a therapeutic mixed-ability soccer game he’s obliged to attend,
Gabriel meets Christopher, a teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome, and the two are forced to
“make friends.” Screening preceded by reception and red carpet starting at 6 pm.

Tue, Apr 9, 7 pm | IAC Building, co-presented by Vimeo

América
Dir. Erick Stoll and Chase Whiteside
75 min, USA, Documentary
Diego, a young circus artist, returns home and reunites with his brothers after their
grandmother, América, falls from her bed. Diego is a dreamer who sees poetry and purpose in this tragedy. His dream of familial cohesion fades into reality as the brothers clash over money, communication, and the challenge of caring for América.

Wed, Apr 3, 7 pm | Maysles Documentary Center
Thu, Apr 4, 7:15 pm | Lehman College
Sat, Apr 6, 8:30 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Sun, Apr 7, 4:30 pm | Museum of the Moving Image

Crazy
Dir. Lise Zumwalt
60 min, USA, Documentary
A young man diagnosed with schizophrenia decides to go off his medication fearing that side effects will override the drugs’ benefits. A powerful human drama that challenges perceptions about treating mental illness.

Thu, Apr 4, 6 pm | Mid-Manhattan Library
Fri, Apr 5, 1 pm | Bellevue Hospital/NYU
Sat, Apr 6, 2 pm | Webster Library
Sun, Apr 7, 8:30 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Gurrumul
Dir. Paul Williams
96 min, Australia, Documentary
A portrait of world music phenomenon Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, a blind indigenous artist on the brink of international reverence. Possessing a deep reserve of musical talent, he struggles with balancing his personal life and keeping the show on the road.

Hearts of Glass—A Vertical Farm Takes Root in Wyoming
Dir. Jennifer Tennican
68 min, USA, Documentary
East Coast Premiere
This film follows the tumultuous first 15 months of the operating of Vertical Harvest (VH), a
state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse that provides local crops as well as employment for people with disabilities. Plants and people grow together in this intimate portrait of innovation, inclusion, and community.

Wed, Apr 3, 4 pm | The Viscardi Center
Wed, Apr 3, 7:15 pm | Lehman College
Sat, Apr 6, 6:30 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Mon, Apr 8, 12:30 pm | St. John’s University

Intelligent Lives
Dir. Dan Habib
72 min, USA, Documentary
Three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities challenge perceptions of
intelligence as they navigate education and the workforce. The film challenges what it means to be intelligent, and points to a future in which people of all abilities can fully participate in higher education, meaningful employment, and intimate relationships.
Copresented by Matan

Sun, Apr 7, 10 am | Commonpoint Queens
Sun, Apr 7, noon | Cinema Arts Centre
Sun, Apr 7, 4:30 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Mon, Apr 8, 7:30 pm | Lincoln Center

Me, My Mouth, and I
Dir. Sophie Robinson
59 min, UK, Documentary
International Premiere
The journey of an actress with Tourette syndrome and her exploration of neurodiversity. Artist, activist, and performer Jess Thom asks novel questions about the portrayal of disability in the arts and the exclusion of people with disabilities as cultural and creative producers.

Wed, Apr 3, 6:15 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Thu, Apr 4, 2 pm | Webster Library
Thu, Apr 4, 4 pm | Mid-Manhattan Library

Nathan’s Kingdom
Dir. Olicer Muñoz
98 min, USA, Narrative
East Coast Premiere
A dark fantasy drama about Nathan, a young man with autism, and his sister Laura, who has an addiction. Rather than surrender to social services, they risk it all, battling monsters and enduring mythical wars in the hope of finding a fictitious kingdom to potentially transform their lives forever.

Thu, Apr 4, 8:30 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Fri, Apr 5, 8 pm | Rivertown Film Society (JCC Rockland)

Suicide: The Ripple Effect
Dir. Kevin Hines and Greg Dicharry
95 min, USA, Documentary
At age 19, Kevin Hines attempted to take his own life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Seventeen years later, he still struggles with many of the same symptoms that led him to attempt suicide, but he is on a mission to use his story to help others stay alive.

Sun, Apr 7, 2 pm | Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Sun, Apr 7, 6:30 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Mon, Apr 8, 7 pm | Bedford Playhouse

Tamara and the Ladybug
Dir. Lucía Carreras
107 min, Mexico, Spain, Narrative
Tamara is a woman with a mental disability who attempts to continue her daily routine despite the disarray in her life. Tamara’s fascination with ladybugs leads her out of her neighborhood and into the unknown, where she discovers a new reality.

Wed, Apr 3, 8:30 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan – CANCELLED
Sat, Apr 6, noon | Mid-Manhattan Library

The Drummer and the Keeper
Dir. Nick Kelly
93 min, Ireland, Narrative
Gabriel is a drummer in a promising band, desperate to hide his bipolar diagnosis from his
exasperated band mates. At a therapeutic mixed-ability soccer game he’s obliged to attend,
Gabriel meets Christopher, a teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome, and the two are forced to
“make friends.”

The R-Word
Dir. Amanda Lukoff
66 min, USA, Documentary
East Coast Premiere
The inappropriate use of the R-word can be heard every day, and continues to marginalize a population of people. This film confronts how, when, and why the R-word became so present in our culture, illustrates who it impacts, and ultimately makes the case for changing the conversation around people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Fri, Apr 5, 1 pm | Webster Library
Mon, Apr 8, 6:15 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Mon, Apr 8, 7 pm | Gural JCC

Wild Prairie Rose
Dir. Deborah LaVine
91 min, USA, Narrative
New York Premiere
In 1952, Rose Miller returns to her rural hometown to care for her ailing mother. When Rose
decides to embark on a filmmaking project in her local community, she is enchanted by a local man who is deaf, and must decide if she has the courage to follow her heart.

Wed, Apr 3, 7:30 pm | Gold Coast – CANCELLED
Thu, Apr 4, 6:15 pm | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

SHORTS
Act Natural
Dir. Luca Fox
4 min, Australia, Narrative
The battle occuring in the mind of a young man with high-functioning autism as he engages in everyday conversation.

CODA
Dir. Erika Davis-Marsh
22 min, USA, Narrative
A young dancer struggles with her identity and growing up hearing in a deaf family.

Descent: In Process
Dir. Chris Cameron
7 min, USA, Documentary
Three artists create a multimedia dance performance that amplifies the joy of wheeled
movement.

Hair Trigger
Dir. Taylor Schafer
9 min, USA, Narrative
School shooting survivor Sadie struggles to reconcile the night before the rest of Sadie’s
classmates return to school without her.

Hale
Dir. Brad Bailey
21 min, USA, Documentary
Born with cerebral palsy, Hale Zukas is the “grandfather” of the disability movement. A born activist,he wakes up every day to fight for disability rights.

Hot Flash
Dir. Danny Woodburn
9 min, USA, Web Series
In this parody, a woman discovers that her symptoms of menopause allow her to unwittingly become a superhero.

Ian, a Moving Story
Dir. Abel Goldfarb
10 min, Argentina, Narrative
Ian uses a wheelchair. All he wants is to make friends, but discrimination keeps him away from the playground.

Jmaxx and the Universal Language
Dir. Ryan Mayers
13 min, USA, Documentary
A teenager with autism turns to dance as a way to better express himself.

Leftover
Dir. Meric Demiray
10 min, Turkey, Narrative
A young man leaves home to join a peace rally. On his way, he starts to experience strange
occurrences.

Little Rebel
Dir. Aimie Vallat + Guido Ronge
10 min, USA, Documentary
Isatou Jallow, a woman from The Gambia living in Seattle, advocates for women, asylees, and people with disabilities.

Living Art
Dir. David Rochkind
32 min, USA, Documentary
The story of a young woman living with Familial Dysautonomia, whose art became her stunning and profound means of communication and livelihood.

Mapping the Disability Trap
Dir. Jason DaSilva
14 min, USA, Documentary
Filmmaker Jason DaSilva encounters a health care crisis as he tries to be closer to his son who lives 2,000 miles away.

The Matchmaker
Dir. Leonora Pitts
12 min, USA, Narrative
Sam is concerned that his aging mother lacks the social stimulation that he believes will stave off Alzheimer’s. He decides to find her a new best friend.

On the Spectrum
Dir. Yuval Shafferman, Created by Dana Idisis + Yuval Shafferman
26 min, Israel, Series
Three roommates in their twenties, all on the autism spectrum, share an apartment while
learning to contend with the world around them.

Panic Attack!
Dir. Eileen O’Meara
3 min, USA, Narrative
A woman wonders if she left the coffee machine on, causing her to slowly fall into a pit of
anxiety and obsession, and lose hold on reality.

Shakespeare in Tokyo
Dir. Genevieve Clay-Smith
21 min, Australia, Japan, Narrative
A Shakespeare fan with Down syndrome sets off on a solo adventure to discover Tokyo and to prove his independence.

Shake with Me
Dir. Zack Grant
33 min, USA, Documentary
Debra Magid is an artist living with, and growing through, Parkinson’s Disease. Her art, health, and family bring her will to triumph.

The Siblings Liebencrantz
Dir. Jonathan Johnson
5 min, USA, Narrative
If you enter the Minimalist Café in Brooklyn, you’ll find four siblings all searching for something: to be the next YouTube sensation.

Take Me to the Waves
Dir. Jake Taylor Kipping + Tom Stoker
20 min, UK, Narrative
When Clementine shares her romantic feelings towards her caregiver, she must face the
complications that exist.

Thrive
Dir. Paul Szynol
14 min, USA, Documentary
A look at the prodigious talent and irrepressible spirit of a musically precocious 12-year-old blind piano player.

The Unconditional
Dir. Dave Adams
30 min, USA, Documentary
An unflinching look into the lives of two undiagnosed children with disabilities and their parents, as they try to navigate reality.

Unteachable
Dir. Anthony Sherin
11 min, USA, Documentary
Daniel looks back on his childhood of being unable to read and the moment he met a teacher who changed everything.

Visibility
Dir. Keenan O’Reilly
5 min, USA, Narrative
A dynamic duo hatches a bird-brained scheme to supplement their income.

VENUES + SCHEDULE

MARLENE MEYERSON JCC MANHATTAN
334 Amsterdam Ave. (and 76th St.)
New York, NY 10023
(646) 505-5708
TTY (877) 505-6708

IAC BUILDING
555 W 18th St.
New York, NY 10011

Allouche Gallery
82 Gansevoort St,
New York, NY 10014
(212) 966-6675

BELLEVUE HOSPITAL (NYU)
468 First Ave.
New York, NY 10016
(212) 998-3759

COOPER HEWITT SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM
2 E 91st St.
New York, NY 10128
(212) 849-2950

GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB
208 W 23RD ST, NEW YORK
NY 10011, USA
(212) 367-9000

INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
One Intrepid Square (W 46th St. + 12th Ave.)
New York, NY 10036
(646) 381-5158

LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (ATRIUM)
61 W 62nd St. (Broadway between West 62nd and West 63rd streets)
New York, NY 10023
(212) 875-5375

MAYSLES DOCUMENTARY CENTER
343 Malcolm X Blvd.
New York, NY 10027
(212) 537-6843

NYPL: WEBSTER LIBRARY
1465 York Ave.
New York, NY 10075
(212) 288-5049

NYPL: MID-MANHATTAN LIBRARY AT 42ND STREET
476 Fifth Ave. (42nd St. entrance)
New York, NY 10018
(212) 340-0873

TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS – NYU CENTER FOR DISABILITY STUDIES
Broadway Block, 721 Broadway
Room 006
New York, NY 10003
(212) 998-8558

BRIC
647 Fulton St. (Entrance on Rockwell Pl.)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 855-7882

NITEHAWK CINEMA WILLIAMSBURG
136 Metropolitan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11249
(718) 782-8370

LEHMAN COLLEGE
Music Building, East Dining Room
250 Bedford Park Blvd. West
Bronx, NY 10468
(718) 960-8441

COMMONPOINT QUEENS
67-09 108 St.
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 268-5011

MARION & AARON GURAL JCC
207 Grove Ave.
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
(516) 569-6733

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE
36-01 35 Ave. (at 37th St.)
Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 777-6828

ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY
8000 Utopia Parkway
Jamaica, NY 11439
(718) 990-2631

LIFESTYLES EDUCATION CENTER
(Copresented with Huguenot Park Library)
884 Targee St.
Staten Island, NY 10304
(718) 981-1000

CINEMA ARTS CENTRE
423 Park Ave.
Huntington, NY 11743
(631) 423-7610

GOLD COAST – CANCELLED
Bow Tie Squire Cinemas
113 Middle Neck Rd.
Great Neck Plaza, NY 11021
(516) 829-2570

THE VISCARDI CENTER
201 I. U. Willets Rd.
Albertson, NY 11507
(516) 465-1608

RIVERTOWN FILM SOCIETY
COPRESENTED BY JCC ROCKLAND
58 Depew Ave.
Nyack, NY 10960
(845) 353-2568

BEDFORD PLAYHOUSE
633 Old Post Rd.
Bedford, NY 10506
(914) 234-6704

SCHEDULE
MANHATTAN

JCC MAN
Tue, Apr 2
7 pm | Opening Night Gala
Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements

Wed, Apr 3
6:15 pm | Me, My Mouth, and I
8:30 pm | Tamara and the Ladybug – CANCELLED

Thu, Apr 4
6:15 pm | Wild Prairie Rose
8:30 pm | Nathan’s Kingdom

Fri, Apr 5
6:30 pm | Shabbat Dinner + Film + Conversation: Advocacy in Action – Hale | Little Rebel
| Mapping the Disability Trap

Mon, Apr 8
6:15 pm | The R-Word
8:30 pm | Gurrumul

IAC BUILDING
Tue, Apr 9
7 pm | The Drummer and the Keeper
Closing Night Copresented by Vimeo – Followed by Closing Night Reception

Allouche Gallery
82 Gansevoort St,
New York, NY 10014
Sun, Apr 7, 4-7 PM | TEARLESS Art Exhibit (Living Art)

BEL
Fri, Apr 5
1:30 pm | Crazy

COOPER
Sat, Apr 6
5 pm | Panel Discussion
Fashion Beyond Function: Ideals of Beauty, Design, and Disability

INTREPID
Sun, Apr 7
2 pm | Suicide: The Ripple Effect

LINCOLN
Mon, Apr 8
7:30 pm | Intelligent Lives

MAYSLES
Wed, Apr 3
7 pm | América
Preceded by Little Rebel

Fri, Apr 5
7 pm | Gurrumul

WEBSTER
Thu, Apr 4
2 pm | Me, My Mouth, and I

Fri, Apr 5
1 pm | The R-Word

Sat, Apr 6
2 pm | Crazy
3:45 | Coda

Mon, Apr 8
1:30 pm | Leftover | Living Art

Sat, Apr 6
12 pm | Tamara and the Ladybug
3 pm | The Drummer and the Keeper

NYU TISCH
Wed, Apr 3
5 pm | Gurrumul

BROOKLYN
BRIC
Mon, Apr 8
7 pm | Jmaxx and the Universal Language | Thrive | Shake with Me

NITEHAWK
Wed, Apr 3
7 pm | Gurrumul

QUEENS
COMMONPOINT
Tue, Apr 2
4 pm | Ian

Mon, Apr 8
1 pm | Shake with Me
1:30 pm | Hale

MOMI
Sun, Apr 7
4:30 pm | América

ST. JOHN’S
Mon, Apr 8
12:30 pm | Hearts of Glass
5 pm | On the Spectrum | The Drummer and the Keeper

STATEN ISLAND
LIFESTYLE (HUGUENOT)
Wed, Apr 3
4 pm | Jmaxx and the Universal Language | Act Natural

LONG ISLAND
CINEMA LI
Sun, Apr 7
Noon | Intelligent Lives
3 pm | The Drummer and the Keeper
The Marion & Aaron Gural JCC
Mon, Apr 8, 7 pm | The R Word

GOLD COAST
Wed, Apr 3
7:30 pm | Wild Prairie Rose – CANCELLED

VISCARDI
Wed, Apr 3
4 pm | Hearts of Glass

ROCKLAND
RIVERTOWN
Fri, Apr 5
8 pm | Nathan’s Kingdom

BEDFORD
Mon, Apr 8
7 pm | Suicide: The Ripple Effect

SPECIAL EVENTS
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACCESS! 2.0
Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 is proud to collaborate with ReelAbilities to present resume review, speed interviews, workshops, flash mentoring, and networking designed for aspiring filmmakers and media professionals with disabilities. LCA2.0 addresses underrepresentation of disabilities in media to increase employment, improve authentic disability-inclusive diversity portrayals, and expand accessible media.

Wed, Apr 3 @ Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

SHABBAT DINNER + MOVIE + CONVERSATION: CELEBRATING ADVOCACY
Honoring Lawrence Carter-Long
ReelAbilities celebrates advocacy and honors those individuals who lead the way toward
greater inclusion and accessibility. Join us for a lively Shabbat dinner and a screening of
several short films relating to activism as we honor the inspiring work of one of our
founding collaborators, Lawrence Carter-Long.

Fri, Apr 5, 6:30 pm @ Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Advance registration required.

ReelAbilities R&R Community Day
Bring the whole family to the JCC for hands-on exploration and activities inspired by the
festival. Programs will include:
Heidi Latsky Dance—On Display,
NYC Kids Project Puppet Show,
Action Play theater,
Panel discussions,
Partner activities and tables,
and much more… Look online for full schedule of events.

Sat, Apr 6, 2-6 pm @ Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Writing Disability—Panel
The visions presented in media help shape our society. From Archie Comics to
children’s TV shows, we are witnessing exciting new examples of inclusion in media.
Join us for a panel and presentations of creators who are furthering diversity in multiple
forms of media. In Partnership with WGA-East

Sat, Apr 6, 3 pm @ Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Fashion Beyond Function: Ideals of Beauty, Design, and Disability
Brand ambassadors, designers, and industry pioneers gather in conversation to explore the development of fashion for people with disabilities, representation, and the business case for engaging with inclusive design. The panel will also discuss the shift in approach from focus on function to self-expression.

Sat, Apr 6, 5 pm @ Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

ReelAbilities Comedy Night
An evening of laughs brought to you by top comedians revealing the entire truth about
comedy and disability. Hosted by Danny Woodburn.

Wed, Apr 3, 8 pm (7 doors) @ Gotham Comedy Club

Disability on the Small Screen Panel
TV and web series have opened up new platforms for accessible presentations of
people with disabilities. Enjoy a screening featuring groundbreaking shows, including On
the Spectrum and Hot Flash, which spotlight people with disabilities, followed by a
discussion involving the filmmakers and industry experts.
In partnership with SAG-AFTRA.

Sun, Apr 7, 2:30 pm @ Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

“TEARLESS” ART EXHIBIT
Featuring five young adult artists who have Familial Dysautonomia (including Mara Clawson, subject of the film Living Art).

Sun, Apr 7 @ Allouche Gallery
3-4 pm – VIP Meet the Artists reception
4-7 pm – Art Exhibit

Daytime Educational Screening Program
Throughout the run of the festival, ReelAbilities provides FREE screenings (followed by
moderated conversations) of select films to schools and educators in the JCC’s theater.
We welcome all schools to take advantage of this special initiative. For more information,
contact reelabilities@jccmanhattan.org.

MORE SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAM UPDATES, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION +
TICKETS LISTED ONLINE: REELABILITIES.ORG/NEWYORK

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
ReelAbilities strives to include all people. ReelAbilities presents all films with open
captions, and all venues are accessible to mobility devices. The main venue, Marlene
Meyerson JCC Manhattan, provides ASL interpretation, CART, Audio Description, and
information in braille upon advanced request, and such assistance may be available at
other venues as well. Individuals requiring accommodations to participate should contact
the specific screening venue directly by March 18, 2019.

TICKET INFORMATION
Ticketing policies and prices vary by location. Tickets can be purchased online at
reelabilities.org/newyork. To purchase tickets or register by phone, please contact the
appropriate screening venue directly. The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan offers
group rates and discounted multi-ticket packs. For more information, please visit
reelabilities.org/newyork or contact the appropriate screening venue directly.

PROGRAM UPDATES, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND TICKETS: REELABILITIES.ORG/NEWYORK
646.505.5708 I TTY 877.505.6708

ALL FILMS FOLLOWED BY CONVERSATION.

Presented by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, the 11th Annual ReelAbilities Film
Festival: New York is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives,
stories, and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. The festival presents
award-winning films in various locations throughout the NY metropolitan area.
Discussions and other engaging programs bring the community together to explore,
discuss, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.
reelabilities.org/newyork[:]