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originally published: 11/18/2021

(UNION, NJ) -- The ReelAbilities New Jersey Film Festival at Kean University is taking place, virtually, now through Saturday, November 20.  Live streamed conversations that bring together the community to explore, discuss, embrace and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experiences will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 18, 19 and 20.

Dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities, Kean’s festival will feature internationally acclaimed narrative, documentary and short films, all related to the largest minority in America–the disability community. All films include option captions and audio-described films are available.

ReelAbilities at Kean screenings include Ahead of the Curve, a chutzpah-filled documentary about Franco Stevens’ bold launch of Curve, the best-selling lesbian lifestyle magazine ever published. The film is preceded by Charon, a short film about an artist whose work is inspired by visions he has during his seizures from temporal lobe epilepsy.

The Special, a narrative film from Venezuela, tells the story of a young adult with Down Syndrome who is seeking independence from his troubled father. Screening with it is Verisimilitude, about a disabled actress looking for work.

Reel Shorts is a collection of short narrative and documentary films that explore a wide range of physical, cognitive and mental health disabilities. Shorts include Single, about a blind date; David, a therapy session featuring William Jackson Harper and Will Ferrell; Deafinition, a comedic look at living with deafness; Dead End Drive, about dodging zombies; and Strange, an animation about living with autism.

 

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The final night of the ReelAbilities festival at Kean, on Saturday, November 20, addresses disability advocacy with Not Going Quietly, which follows activist Ady Barkan, a father who is diagnosed with ALS and given four years to live, as he fights for healthcare justice to save his life. The preceding short film, How Much Am I Worth, looks at the challenges — and dire consequences — of the United States healthcare and insurance industries.

This Kean presentation of ReelAbilities New Jersey is being held in partnership with Montclair State University, the presenting sponsor, with generous funding from the Kessler Foundation. To view the full ReelAbilities New Jersey schedule, visit reelabilities.org/newjersey.

Badges for each film is $5; all-film passes for the festival are $16. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.

PHOTO: Image from “Not Going Quietly” by Michael Nigro

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

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