Hybrid ReelAbilities Disability Film Festival Returns to Kean University
The ReelAbilities Film Festival at Kean University will be held in-person and online from Thursday, February 29 through Saturday, March 2.
Kean University is set to host the ReelAbilities Film Festival in a hybrid format this year, including in-person and virtual film screenings. The festival, dedicated to celebrating the lives, stories and artistic expressions of individuals with disabilities, features a variety of award-winning films that spotlight the experiences and talents of the disabled community.
From Thursday, February 29 through Saturday, March 2, attendees have the option to view the screenings at the North Avenue Academic Building on Kean’s Union, New Jersey campus, or online. Tickets are $5 per screening. For details on the festival lineup, trailers and ticketing, visit www.keanstage.com/reelabilitiesnj.
The festival will showcase a compelling selection of films, including thought-provoking documentaries and powerful narratives, all centered around or created by individuals with disabilities. Post-screening discussions with disabled individuals aimed at bringing the themes of the films to life and fostering a sense of community among viewers from all walks of life will follow each screening. Guests include Steve Way, actor/comedian from Hulu's Ramy and the executive producer of the new film Good Bad Things, as part of the Saturday afternoon matinee which includes a short film he appears in called Act of God.
"We're excited to bring this year's ReelAbilities Film Festival, highlighting the remarkable talents and stories within the disability community, to our campus and local communities,” said Steve Cochran, manager of Kean Stage. “Our goal is to lean on the emotive power of film to challenge perceptions, encourage inclusivity, and spark impactful discussions around disability with audiences of all backgrounds."
The festival will feature five screenings over three days, starting with a teen-oriented session on Thursday, February 29 at 10 a.m., and concluding with two series of short films on Saturday, March 2. Highlights include the feature film, Jasmine Is a Star, about a young girl with albinism aspiring to be a model, and the documentary Being Michelle, which narrates the challenges faced by a deaf woman in the prison system who finds healing when she connects with a blind life coach who works in the jail.
The statewide ReelAbilities New Jersey Film Festival is led by Montclair State University and supported by the Kessler Foundation. Kean’s festival is hosted by Kean Stage with support from campus and community partners, including Eyes Like Mine, Inc. and the Spina Bifida Resource Network.
The North Avenue Academic Building at Kean University is located at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey. To purchase tickets and learn more about the ReelAbilities Film Festival at Kean, including film descriptions and trailers, visit https://keanstage.com/events/reelabilitiesnj.