ReelAbilities 2013 Short Film Program: Screenings of Flying Anne, Be My Brother, Autism in Love, Beautiful, Jazz Hand, with a discussion afterwards led by Susan Dooha

As part of ReelAbilities 2013, we are pleased to present a program of outstanding short films:

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.

BE MY BROTHER, Dir. Genevive 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.

AUTISM IN LOVE,  Dir. Michelle Friedline (USA, 2012, 9 min, Documentary) R.V. 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, three inches taller and nine years his senior, share secrets about their bond and R.V. reveals the true meaning of unconditional love.

BEAUTIFUL, Dir. Genevive Clay , (Australia, 2010, 17 min, Narrative) Two people with disabilities navigate through the challenges they're faced with when their relationship is displayed in public.

JAZZ HAND, Dir. Michelle Vargas, (USA, 2009, 3 min, Narrative) It should be like any other tap dance audition. Mary's been to hundreds. Everything is going great until mid-dance when her well-kept secret, her prosthetic hand, falls off.

Susan Dooha, Executive Director at Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York, will lead a discussion after the short film program. Mary Theresa Archbold, Executive Producer and starring actor in Jazz Hand will be present as well. 

Please contact Brigid Cahalan at brigidcahalan@nypl.org or 212-340-0951 if you have any question or request for accommodation.