~Festival debuts September 21 st in 14 locations throughout NYC & surrounding counties kicking off w/ pre-festival screening September 14th on Roosevelt Island~  

~Award Winning Actress, Sigourney Weaver, Among Guests~

~Realabilities is pleased to announce it will be the inaugural program for a new and important NY wide ASL service~

Realabilities: The First Annual NY Disabilities Film Festival debuts this fall simultaneously in 14 locations throughout the New York metropolitan area.   Beginning September 21st and running through September 23rd , Realabilities will showcase feature, documentary and short films by and about the lives of people with disabilities.

Premiering the week before National Disability Awareness Month, Realabilities aims to promote awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. The festival will present award-winning films in 14 locations throughout the NY metropolitan area. Discussions and other engaging programs will bring together the community to explore, discuss and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.

Tickets are available online realabilities.org and by phone 646.505.5708

In an effort to make the festival as inclusive as possible for all members of the community, Realabilities will be providing ASL interpretation for Deaf community members at all JCC in Manhattan events throughout the festival, and at all other festival locations upon request.   You can read more about this new and unique service below.

GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

SIGOURNEY WEAVER - Actor, Snowcake.

Sigourney Weaver made her film debut as the iconic Officer Ripley in Ridley Scott's "Alien". Since then she has captivated audiences with a succession of leading and supporting roles in film and theater, winning enthusiastic reviews in comedy and drama. In the last two years her work has ranged from playing a woman with autism in the comedy "Snow Cake" with Alan Rickman, to the fashion plate Babe Paley in "Infamous", to an outrageous television executive in "The TV Set." Other recent films include "Vantage Point" with William Hurt, "The Girl in the Park", written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, "Baby Mama" opposite Tina Fey, and "Wall-E," in which she voiced the ship's computer. She recently worked with James Cameron ("Titanic", "Aliens") on his new sci-fi film, "Avatar," and with Tim Allen on his directorial debut, "Crazy on the Outside." The organizations she works for include The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, The Natural Resources Defense Council, Human Rights First, The Flea Theater in downtown Manhattan, and the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership (GRASP), who gave Sigourney their Divine Neurotypical Award in May.

NICK BALTHAZAR- Writer/Director, Ben X.

Balthazar took his first steps on the international stage staring in children's musicals. Before graduating from university he became a theatre- and later a well known film critic. Then came a successful television career as a cultural journalist, director, presenter and talk show-host. He is the author of Niets Was Alles Wat Hij Zei (Nothing Was All He Said) and its stage adaptation, the multi-media play NIETS (NOTHING).

JUSTIN EDGAR- Director, Special People.

Edgar began his film career directing the short comedy Dirty Phonecalls for Carlton's First Cut scheme. It became a worldwide festival hit and won the 1998 BBC Drama Award at the Birmingham Film Festival.

At age of 26, he made his first feature film Large, making him the youngest director ever to direct a major UK feature. His 2005 short Special People won Best Film at the 2005 Chicago Film Festival, Best Drama at the 2006 Royal Television Society Awards, the 2007 BBC New Filmmakers Award and was shortlisted for the 2007 Oscars, BAFTAS and Turner Classic Movies Prize Shorts. Also shot in 2005, The Ends won Best Short at the 2005 Raindance Film Festival in London. In 2004, Edgar started his own production company, 104 Films.

MAT FRASER- Actor, Every Time You Look At Me.

Mat Fraser (born 1962) is a rock musician, actor and performance artist. As a live artist he was a member of the performance art group The DHSS in the early 1990s. He was included in Manuel Vason's book "Exposures" and has performed at numerous internationally renowned venues. He received considerable critical acclaim for his one-man show "Seal Boy". As an actor he has performed with the "Graeae Theatre Company," Europe's leading disability theatre company. He is the creator and main performer in a new play called Thalidomide!! A Musical, and has appeared on television both as a presenter and as an actor, in a variety of productions.

GRAHAM GORDY- Screenwriter, War Eagle, Arkansas.

Graham Gordy, a native of Conway, Arkansas, completed his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where he received the Goldberg Award for Playwriting. He is a member of the Royal Court Theatre's Young Writer's Programme in London, as well as being an American Delegate to Australia's Interplay Young Writer's Conference. His plays have been performed by Naked Angels, The New Group, and New York Stage and Film. Graham's screenplay credits include "War Eagle, Arkansas" and "The Love Guru." Graham recently relocated back to Arkansas with his wife and new daughter, Lilla Bird.

VINCENT INSALACO - Executive Producer, War Eagle, Arkansas.

Insalaco has worked for many leading national and state political leaders and produced hundreds of projects, festivals and documentaries including The Hunting of the President and HBO's Back in the Hood. Vincent also built and owned the largest independent video rental chain in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.   "War Eagle, Arkansas " is his first feature narrative movie.

BONNNIE KLEIN- Director, SHAMELESS: The ART of Disability.

Bonnie Klein has worked as director and producer for the National Film Board of Canada, Operation Boule de Neige and Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography. She co-directed and co-produced Speaking Our Peace, and co-produced Dark Lullabies. She is the writer of the radio documentary Finding My Place: A Journey Into the World of Disability and author of Slow Dance: A Story of Stroke, Love and Disability. Klein currently serves as artistic advisor and board member of the Society for Disability Arts and Culture (S4DAC), which she co-founded, and actively advocates for access for media-makers with disabilities.

MICHAEL JOHN CARLEY- Executive Director of GRASP

Michael John Carley received his B.A. from Hampshire College in 1986 and his M.F.A. from Columbia University in 1989. As the Executive Director of GRASP, the largest organization comprised of adults on the autism spectrum, he has spoken at conferences, hospitals, universities, and health care organizations. He has appeared in the media widely, most notably in the New York Times, Washington Post, NY Newsday, the London Times, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the Chronicle of Higher Education, NEWSWEEK OnAir, ABCNews, Psychology Today, and on radio on Terry Gross' Fresh Air as well as The Infinite Mind--NPR programs whose news department also aired an unprecedentedly-long 12-minute news piece in June of 2006 that featured he and GRASP. Carley was featured in the documentary, "On the Spectrum," and in the soon-to-be released documentary, "Neurotypical: The Movie." His article, GRASP at One Year: A Personal and Very Unprofessional Look Back was widely circulated, and his other articles have been published in magazines such as Autism Spectrum Quarterly, TAP (The Autism Perspective), Autism/Asperger Digest; and in newsletters such as the OARacle. His first book, Asperger's From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome, was released in April, 2008 to humbling advance reviews.

THIS YEAR'S ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:

SCREENING FOR DISABILITY - A Panel Discussion

September 12, 3 PM

Location: New York University, King Juan Carlos Center, 53 Washington Square South, NYC

Admission: Free

This panel of filmmakers, programmers and activists will discuss their creative and curatorial work making and screening films about the lives of people with disabilities, and how their work is breaking new ground in the representation and circulation of these stories.

•  Isaac Zablocki, Director of Film Program, The JCC in Manhattan, Realabilities Film Festival

•  Lawrence Carter-Long, Director of Advocacy and disThis film series, Disabilities Network of NYC

•  Tony Di Salvo, Director, Sprout Film Festival

•  Alice Eliot, Award-winning filmmaker and activist and director of Welcome Change Productions

•  Simi Linton, award-winning writer and advocate, founder, Disability/Arts

•  Ilana Trachtman, award-winning filmmaker and activist (Praying with Lior)

Co-presented with NYU Council for the Study of Disability, with the support of NYU Center for media, Culture and History

PRE-FESTIVAL SCREENING at Roosevelt Island

SHAMELESS: THE ART OF DISABILITY

September 14, 1:30 PM

Location: Goldwater Memorial Hospital, 1 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044. Tel: (212) 318-4728.

Admission: Free. Refreshments will be served.

Join us for a free pre-festival screening of the remarkable documentary by Bonnie Sherr Klein, SHAMELESS: The Art of Disability.

The Kick-off event for the film festival is being held on Roosevelt Island to acknowledge and celebrate the inclusive community that is unique to RI. A largely diverse community of people with and without disabilities work and live together, affirming the heart and soul of each individual. Many residents were previous consumers at Coler-Goldwater hospital and have re-integrated back into the community. A dialogue will take place after the film is shown to discuss individual and societal beliefs, views and acceptance of disability in today's society and its impact on individuals with disability.

•  Assemblyman Micah Z. Kellner

•  Claude Ritman, Executive Director of Coler-Goldwater

•  Virginia Granato, President of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association

The Presidents of the Hospital's Community Advisory Boards will be attending. The event is sponsored by Coler-Goldwater Hospital and the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association. Residents of the Coler-Goldwater Hospital will be available for media upon request to discuss what this film means to them.   Lorraine Altman, a resident of Roosevelt Island and partner of the film festival made this event possible.

Co-presented with Coler-Goldwater and Roosevelt Island Disabled Association

FAMILY PROGRAM

September 21, 11 AM

Location: The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave @ 76th Street, NYC

Admission: $5

Join us on Sunday morning for a family program featuring a screening of the animated feature FINDING NEMO , followed by a storytelling hour from DISABLED FABLES .

Finding Nemo

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. Diverse characters get along well, Nemo is brave and capable. A father searches tirelessly for his son and learns a lesson in letting go and letting him grow up.

Disabled Fables

A compilation of fables retold and illustrated by adults with developmental disabilities. The writer/artists' interpretations of the tales is startling, relating the stories to their life experiences in an often touching and illuminating way. Read by Heidi Landis, Program Director, CANY.

OUTSIDER & SHAMELESS - A Panel Discussion

September 21, 3 PM
Location: The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue @ 76th Street, L2 auditorium

Film descriptions:
Outsider: The Life and Art of Judith Scott
Betsy Bayha (Documentary, 26 min, USA, 2006)
In this award-winning film, Judith Scott creates body-like sculptures from found objects. Judith has Down syndrome, is deaf, and does not speak. These sculptures are her most complex means of communication. Judith had become a famous "outsider artist," proving the power of artistic expression and the importance of a loving family.

Shameless: The ART of Disability
Bonnie Klein (Documentary, 76 min, Canada, 2006)
Director Bonnie Klein gathers a motley crew of artists with diverse disabilities for a pajama party. A comedian, poet, dancer, and others take a subversive look at Hollywood stereotypes of people with disabilities. They decide to continue meeting , and together embark on a mission to create their own images of disability.

Discussion topic: Arts & Disabilities.

Panelists:

•  Bonnie Klein - Director, "SHAMELESS"

•  Pam Rogers - Director, Pure Vision Arts

•  Arthur Strimling - Director, Haym Salomon Division of the Arts

•  Christine Bruno - Disability Advocate, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts

THE ARTWORK OF PURE VISION ARTS: SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION

September 22, 5 PM

Location: The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave @ 76th Street, NYC

Admission: Free

Pure Vision Arts (PVA) is New York's premier studio and exhibition space for adults with developmental disabilities. Pamala Rogers, Director of Pure Vision Arts, joined by artists of Pure Vision Arts, will introduce the artwork and the stories behind it through a slideshow presentation.

More about Pure Vision Arts: PVA provides studio space, art materials, exhibition opportunities, and career development for beginning, emerging and established artists. PVA is also a resource center for artists, art collectors, curators and others interested in promoting inclusion and accessibility in the arts for people with disabilities. PVA was founded in 2002 by The Shield Institute, a leading provider of services to New Yorkers and an affiliate of The Jewish Board of Children and Family Services, and is located in the Chelsea district of Manhattan.  

STUBBORN AND SPITE & SPECIAL PEOPLE - A Panel Discussion

September 23, 6PM

Location: The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue @ 76th Street, L2 auditorium

Film descriptions:
Special People
Justin Edgar (Drama, 80 min, UK, 2007)
Enlisted to teach a class of teenagers in wheelchairs about filmmaking, the neurotic Jasper is met with a snappy attitude from the streetwise adolescents. This witty comedy questions condescending outreach projects, self-defeating attitudes, and the vacuity of the film business- all with a healthy helping of self-parody.

Stubborn & Spite
Lou Birks (Drama, 3 min, UK, 2007)
Witness the mayhem that ensues when two drivers fight over who should get the last disabled parking spot - with drastic, and often, hilarious consequences.

Discussion topic: Film & Disabilities. The discussion will focus on two aspects of this topic; both the way people with disabilities are portrayed in film, and representation & opportunities in the film industry for filmmakers with disabilities.

Panelists:

•  Commissioner Katherine Oliver - Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting

•  Christine Bruno - Disability Advocate, Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts

•  Mat Fraser - Actor, "Every Time You Look At Me", "Stubborn & Spite"

•  Justin Edgar - Filmmaker "Special People"

•  Bonnie Klein - Director, "Shameless"

Moderator: Lawrence Carter Long - Director of Advocacy, Disabilities Network of NYC

ASL INTERPRETATION SERVICES:
The Jewish Deaf Resource Center, Inc. recently launched a new grant program providing ASL Interpretation services for the Deaf community through Jewish organizations in the New York metropolitan area. Realabilities is pleased to announce it will be the inaugural program for this new and important service.   All of Realabilities programs and events at the JCC in Manhattan will have ASL Interpretation and all other Realabilities locations will have ASL services upon request.

Since 1996, the Jewish Deaf Resource Center, Inc. (JDRC) has advocated for greater access so that Jews who are Deaf can lead rich and meaningful Jewish lives.  JDRC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is a resource for the entire Jewish community, advising institutions on accessibility, offering Jewish storytelling in American Sign Language (ASL) for Deaf and hearing families, and training Judaic ASL interpreters. JDRC is unique in its team approach, with Deaf and hearing working collaboratively.  JDRC is a former resident of JESNA's Bikkurim: an incubator for new Jewish Ideas, and recipient of grants from the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Shefa Fund.  JDRC interpreters have worked at many congregations in the metropolitan area, including Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Manhattan and Beth-El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle.

For a complete festival schedule and listing of festival locations please go to www.realabilities.org

Presented by the JCC in Manhattan and supported by the UJA-Federation of NY Realabilities will showcase nine films, opening and closing night receptions, and free family & educational programming in various locations in the NY metro area including presentations and support by:

· Abilities!

· Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts

· Autism Speaks

· Barry & Florence Friedberg JCC

· Bridge Multimedia

· Board of Jewish Education of Greater NY

· Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Inc.

· Brooklyn Borough President's Office

· Brooklyn Public Library

· Chuck Goldman Family Supporting

· disTHIS! Film Series, a program of the Disabilities Network of NYC

· Dorothy and Richard Rodgers Fund of UJA-Federation of New York

· Easter Seals NY

· Exceptional Parent Magazine

· F*E*G*S

· F.Y. Eye

· Hostos Community College

· Imagine Academy

· Independence Care System

· J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation

· JASA

· JBFCS

· JCC of Greater Five Towns

· JCC of Mid Westchester

· JCC of Staten Island

· JCC on the Hudson

· JCCA

· Long Island University

· Matan

· Mid Island YM-YWHA

· National MS Society

· NY Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities

· NY Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting

· NYU Center for Media, Culture and History

· Pure Vision Arts

· QSAC

· Riverdale YM-YWHA

· Samuel Field YM-YWHA

· Sephardic Community Center

· Sid Jacobson JCC

· Suffolk YM-YWHA

· Susan's Sweets

· United Spinal Association

· WJCS

· YAI

For more information about the festival got to www.realabilities.org or call (646) 505-5738