March 10th at 10:00am and 1:30pm
March 11th at 1:00pm

ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival presents
award winning films by and about people with disabilities.

Post-screening discussions and author talks bring the community together to explore, discuss, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.  More information about the NY Reelabilities Film Festival is available at www.newyork.reelabilities.org.

To order your tickets online, please click here!

Sunday, March 10, 10:00 a.m.
For this program, the suggested donations are $5 m / $8 nm
Coffee & bagels served.

REEL ENCOUNTERS 2013

A morning of wonderful short documentaries on autism, Down syndrome, and Tourette syndrome.  Speakers to be announced.

AUTISM IN LOVE
Dir. Michelle Friedline
(USA 2012, 9 min. Documentary)

RV Kuser is a clever and dapper man of 50 with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has learned to suppress certain behaviors so he can fully embrace life. He and his wife Marlene, share secrets about their bond and RV reveals the true meaning of unconditional love.

BEAUTIFUL
Dir. Genevieve Clay
(Australia 2010, 17 min. Narrative)

Two people with developmental disabilities navigate the challenges they are faced when their relationship is displayed in public.

FLYING ANNE
Dir. Catherine van Campen
(Netherlands 2010, 21 min. Documentary)

Eleven-year-old Anne is the kind of beautiful girl you can’t take your eyes off. The longer you look, the more you see her ‘tics’ from her Tourette’s syndrome—she suddenly spins or licks something.  Anne is afraid of being teased at school and tries to keep her tics in check though she prefers ‘flying’ through life, so no one notices her tics.

SENSORY OVERLOAD
Dir. Miguel Jiron
(USA 2012, 3 min. Narrative)

This animation gives the viewer a glimpse into the sensory overload experienced by people with autism and shows how often sensory experiences intertwine in everyday life.

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Sunday, March 10, 1:00 p.m.
For this program, the suggested donations are $5 m / $8 nm
Coffee & light refreshments served.

Two inspiring films on Down syndrome.  Speakers to be announced.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TYING YOUR OWN SHOES
Dir. Lena Koppel
(Sweden 2011, 100 min. Narrative)

When Alex gets a job as the leader of a local theater group for people with disabilities his outlook on life begins to change. Through the theater group’s work, Alex comes to appreciate that every person has his or own talents, which can grow if given the opportunity and support.

BE MY BROTHER
Dir. Genevieve Clay
(Australia 2009, 8 min. Narrative)

A young man with Down Syndrome breaks down the barriers of social prejudice when his charm and charisma challenge the prejudices of a stranger at a bus stop.

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Monday, March 11, 1:00 p.m.
For this program, the suggested donations are $3 m / $6 nm
Coffee & light refreshments served.

A special ReelAbilities event, Still Standing, with singer Anita Hollander.

A musical survival guide for life’s catastrophes.  The winner of the Audience Award at the United Solo Festival NYC 2012 charts “tools for survival” in 16 moving & witty songs by Anita Hollander, who has appeared at the New York Shakespeare Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre, and the White House.  Ms. Hollander lost her leg to cancer 30 years ago, before she did all of the above.  The New York Times has called her “provocative, funny, moving, communicative and beautifully polished (with) a wide rainbow of vocal colors that she uses with dramatic sensitivity as well as comic insights… plus a charming presence that flavors everything she does.” Don’t miss this remarkable performance!

To order your tickets online, please click here!

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

ReelAbilities strives for inclusion of all people. Individuals needing accommodations to participate should contact the screening venue directly by February 21.  (ASL Interpretation, Live Audio Description, and information in Braille arevailable upon request.) All films are captioned or subtitled and all venues are wheelchair accessible.

These events are presented by the Central Queens & Samuel Field Y, the Queens Jewish Community Council, & the Shield Institute.

The Fifth Annual Reelabilities:  NY Disabilities Film Festival is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. The festival presents award-winning films by and about people with disabilities in multiple locations throughout the NY metropolitan area. Post-screening discussions and other engaging programs bring together the community to explore, discuss, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.