FEBRUARY
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AWARD-WINNING FILMS THAT WILL ENGAGE,
ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE AND INSPIRE YOU!
A groundbreaking film festival presented for the first time
in the Greater Washington area by the Washington DCJCC, JCC of Greater Washington and JCC of Northern Virginia
REELAbilities is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities from a variety of communities. Award-winning films are accompanied by discussion and other engaging programs, which bring together the community to explore, discuss and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.
Complete schedule, trailers and tickets at greaterdc.reelabilities.org
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Opening Night
WARRIOR CHAMPIONS
Wednesday, February 1
6:30 pm Reception, 7:30 pm Film
The Avalon Theatre
5612 Connecticut Ave. NW
Four Iraq War veterans strive to turn the nightmares of war into Olympic dreams. After losing limbs and suffering paralysis fighting for their country, they set out to do what many thought impossible---but will they make the cut?
USA and China, documentary, 80 min, English. Directed by Craig Renaud and Brent Renaud. Open captioned.
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The following films are screening at the Washington DCJCC, one of six REELAbilities venues. Please check the website for the complete festival schedule at all venues in DC, MD and NoVA. Please note: All films at the Washington DCJCC are open captioned except Shooting Beauty and Crooked Beauty.
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BEN X
Thursday, February 2, 7:30 pm
Ben hides from the harsh reality of school bullying and awkward social interactions by escaping into his favorite online computer game, where he is safe, strong and in control of his surroundings...until a girl from his game becomes real. Mature content recommended for 15 and above.
Belgium, drama, 93 min, English subtitles. Directed by Nic Balthazar
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HENRY O!
Friday, February 3, 1:00 pm
Enrique "Henry" Oliu has been blind since birth, but that didn't stop him from making his major league baseball dream come true--being a color commentator for Florida's Tampa Bay Rays.
USA, documentary, 76 min, English. Directed by Ziad H. Hamzeh
This screening is offered free for seniors
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SHOOTING BEAUTY
with CROOKED BEAUTY
Sunday, February 5, 11:00 am
SHOOTING BEAUTY
Fashion photographer Courtney Bent's career and views on art take an unexpected turn when she discovers a hidden world of beauty at a center for people living with significant disabilities.
USA, documentary, 62 min, English. Directed by George Kachadorian
CROOKED BEAUTY
Artist-activist Jacks Ashley McNamara takes a transformative journey from troubled childhood to psych ward patient to pioneering mental health advocate, reshaping mental health stigmas while re-approaching madness as a tool for creativity, inspiration and hope.
USA, documentary, 10 min, English. Directed by Ken Paul Rosenthal |
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Closing Night
WAR EAGLE, ARKANSAS
Thursday, February 9, 7:00 pm
Followed by dessert reception
Enoch Cass (Luke Grimes, TV's Brothers & Sisters) is the star high school pitcher with an innate goodness, a debilitating stutter and a fast-talking, life-long best friend with cerebral palsy, Samuel "Wheels" Macon. Together they face the crossroads of childhood and independence. Based on a true story. With Brian Dennehy, Mare Winningham and Mary Kay Place.
USA, drama, 93 min, English. Directed by Robert Milazzo |
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SAVE THE DATE!
Wednesday, February 22
Avalon Theatre
5612 Connecticut Ave. NW
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ITVS Community Cinema Cafe
MORE THAN A MONTH
Sunday, February 26
Reception 12:30 pm, Film 1:00 pm
FREE with reservations strongly encouraged
Should Black History Month be ended? That’s the question explored by African American filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman as he embarks on a cross-country campaign to do just that. Both amusing and thought provoking, More Than a Month examines what the treatment of history tells us about race and power in contemporary America.
Post-screening discussion with filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman by E. Ethelbert Miller, Director, Afro-American Studies Resource Center, Howard University
For reservations and information click here |
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WJFF Replay!
MY SWEET CANARY
Wednesday, March 7, 8:00 pm
The Avalon Theatre
5612 Connecticut Ave. NW
With special guest Roy Sher, director
Roza Eskenazi sang the way she lived--with passion and love. Half a century later, three contemporary musicians from Greece, Turkey and Israel embark on a journey to re-discover the beloved singer of “Rebetiko” (Greek blues) and her nearly vanished world whose sounds continues to echo throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. Israel/Greece/France, 2011, documentary, 90 minutes,
Israel/Greece/France, 2011, documentary, 90 minutes. English, Greek, Turkish, Ladino and Hebrew with English subtitles. Directed by Roy Sher
Co-sponsored by the Embassy of Greece, Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Embassy of Israel and America-Israel Cultural Foundation
Purchase tickets at avalon.org
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Another WJFF Replay Opportunity!
IN ANOTHER LIFETIME
Tuesday, March 13, 7:30 pm with reception following
Embassy of Austria
3524 International Court, NW
FREE with advance reservations required
A weary group of 20 Jews walks through the countryside under the watchful eyes of their Nazi keepers, finally reaching a village where events unfold with acts of brutality, compassion, strength and even a bit of surprising humor as the film moves towards a sobering final twist in this poignant story, directed by Elisabeth Scharang and inspired by actual events.
Austria, 2010, feature, 94 minutes. German with English subtitles, Directed by Elisabeth Scharang
Co-sponsored by the Embassy of Austria and the Austrian Cultural Forum Washington
Click here for rsvp or call (202 )895- 6776
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It's back for one last season!!!
SRUGIM
Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 pm
All new! Season 3-Episodes 1, 2 and 3
Special guest Amos Tamam "Amir"
Our favorite group of 30-something modern religious singles is back for one last season of life and love in the series best described as the Israeli “Friends.” Will Amir and Yifat ever have a baby? Is Nati capable of real love with just one woman? Will Hodaya find religion or love or both again? Can Re’eut reconcile her feminism with her religion, her drive for success with her desire for love?
Join our special guest Amos Tamam (below and left), Srugim's "Amir" (you know, Yifat's husband and the only main character who's been divorced...) and one of Israel’s hottest young actors, for a discussion after the episodes.
Co- presented by EntryPointDC
Co-sponsored by the Center for Israel Studies at American University
Tickets available early February
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All films at the Washington DCJCC unless otherwise noted |