The Reel Abilities: Disabilities Film Festival

Promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.

April 1, 2014; 10:29 AM • by Richard Hayes

The Reel Abilities: Disabilities Film Festival is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. It started in New York in 2007 and has grown to be the largest festival of this type in the country. Movies are shown throughout the country by and about those with disabilities. After each screening there will be a discussion with either/both an expert in the field or a person living with the disability featured in the film.

The festival started in Richmond yesterday. The remaining films are listed below.

Tuesday, April 1
Visual Arts Center of Richmond
(1812 W Main Street, 23220)
7 p.m.
Getting Up
Casky Ebeling, USA, 2012, 73 min, Documentary ALS(2013 Festival)
Renowned graffiti artist TemptOne loses his creative voice, after being paralyzed by Lou
Gehrig’s disease. Through technology and the help of his crew, he is able to create art, write again – and regain his street cred.
TALKBACK SPEAKERS: Ken Knorr from Associated Training Consultants; Mike “Mikemetic” Williams, DJ and radio host at WRIR, and a noted historian on the mural and street art culture in Richmond; Tremetris Harrell and Alex Kurth from the ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter

Wednesday, April 2
The Byrd Theatre
(2908 W. Cary Street, 23222)
7 p.m.
A night of Short Films:
BE MY BROTHER
Genevieve Clay, Australia, 2009, 8 min, Narrative Down Syndrome
Charm and charisma challenge the prejudices of a stranger.

FLYING ANNE Tourettes
Catherine van Campen, Netherlands, 2010, 21 min, Documentary
A portrait of 11-year-old Ann, who has Tourette Syndrome.

JAZZ HAND Physical, Congenital amputee
Michelle Vargas, USA, 2009, 3 min, Narrative
Mary is at an audition when her surprising secret is comically revealed.

50:50
David Ellington, UK, 2010, 27 min, Narrative
A comedy about a Deaf / Hearing friendship where the Hearing buddy comes up with a bunch of schemes for them to earn money – the final one being to use the Deaf bloke’s photographic memory to present him as a psychic.
TALKBACK SPEAKERS: Alex Ginsberg, Drama Therapist; Dr. Fred Orelove, Professor, Advocate, Author; Mary Crews Nunnally, Program Manager of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program with the Division of Rehabilitative Services

Thursday, April 3
Spirited Art
(4029 Whittall Way, 23060)
7 p.m.
Opening: SLAM Richmond-local group of spoken word poets
Crooked Beauty
Ken Paul Rosenthal / Documentary / USA / English / 30 min / Official Website
A visually stunning account of artist-activist Jacks Ashley McNamara’s
transformative journey from troubled childhood to psych ward patient to
pioneering mental health advocate. This poetic tale reshapes mental health
stigmas while re-approaching madness as a tool for creativity, inspiration and
hope.
TALKBACK SPEAKERS: Sherman Master MD., Psychiatrist and Addictionologist

Friday, April 4
Larrick Student Center on VCU Medical Center’s MCV Campus
11 a.m.
Getting Up
Casky Ebeling, USA, 2012, 73 min, Documentary ALS(2013 Festival)
Renowned graffiti artist TemptOne loses his creative voice, after being paralyzed by Lou
Gehrig’s disease. Through technology and the help of his crew, he is able to create art, write again – and regain his street cred.
TALKBACK SPEAKERS: Joey Wallace of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of America; Tremetris Harrell and Alex Kurth from the ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter

Sunday, April 6
Weinstein JCC
(5403 Monument Avenue, 23226)
3 p.m.
Opening: Kids on the Block Puppet Show
Finding Nemo
Andrew Stanton / Animation / 100 min / USA / 2003
The wizards at Pixar take us under the sea to the world of clownfish Marlin and
his son Nemo who has only one fin… When the defiant Nemo takes off from his
dad and gets captured by a tropical fish seeker he finds himself stuck in a
fishbowl in a dentist’s office. Marlin and his well meaning, but wacky, friend Dory
embark on an epic journey to find his son.

Purchase tickets online at http://www.weinsteinjcc.org/cultural-arts/reelabilities/

Image: Reel Abilities website