FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SEPTEMBER 2012
Columbus Presents ReelAbilities NY Disabilities Film Festival
VSA Ohio and partners host award-winning films
Columbus, Ohio – Columbus has been chosen as the ninth city in the U.S. to present the traveling program of the New York ReelAbilities Disabilities Film Festival. The multi-day event will be Saturday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 7, and is presented by VSA Ohio, the state organization on arts and disability- www.vsao.org. This is the first time Columbus and VSA Ohio will present a disability film festival in the central Ohio area.
ReelAbilities is a groundbreaking film festival that unites dozens of partners in an effort to promote awareness and appreciation of lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities, all through the easily accessible art form of film. ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival, and its traveling program, present award-winning films, accompanied by discussions and other engaging programs which bring the community together to explore, discuss and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.
Nine films from Belgium, Canada, China, Israel, US, and UK will be shown throughout the festival. Film venues include: The Columbus Museum of Art; Arena Grand Theatre; OSU Urban Arts Space; The King Arts Complex; and Ohio Historical Society. In addition, state and local inclusive arts agencies will provide art, music, and drama presentations at the festival.
An opening night gala celebration will be held on November 3rd at the Columbus Museum of Art, presenting the award-winning film, Warrior Champions. The movie profiles four Iraq War veterans who returned home with life changing injuries that they turned into Olympic dreams. The evening includes a reception, panel discussion and Key Note speech by disability studies scholar, Dr. Brenda Brueggemann.
The festival includes a free film screening for Columbus Public School students on Tuesday, November 6th. The Israeli film, White Balance, centers on 12-year-old Itamar who has a deep passion for ice skating but is slowly losing his hearing and balance. He refuses to accept his doctor’s orders and parent’s wishes as he and new partner, Natalie, grow within a complicated world of adolescence. Registration is required.
Schedules, movie trailers, and more information is available at columbus.reelabilities.org. Tickets will be available Monday, October 1 and can be purchased for individual films or as a complete festival pass. Discounts are available for seniors, students, veterans, and groups over 20. Due to space limitations pre-purchases are recommended, but can be bought at the door.
ReelAbilities strives for inclusion of all people. All films are captioned or subtitled and include live or recorded audio description. All venues are wheelchair accessible. Individuals needing other accommodations to participate should contact VSA Ohio directly.
ReelAbilities Columbus is sponsored by the Saul Schottenstein Foundation B; Greater Columbus Arts Council; Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County; Special Olympics Ohio; Puffin Foundation West; KeyBank; Goodwill Columbus; Southeast Inc.; Kiwanis International of Columbus; and Square One Salon and Day Spa.
Contact
Erin Hoppe, executive director, VSA Ohio
614-241-5325, ehoppe@vsao.org
