For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (c)
aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
Presented by the Des Moines Art Center, the Harkin Institute, and the Principal® Foundation
DES MOINES, IOWA (September 2024) – The Des Moines Art Center and The Harkin Institute, together with support from Principal® Foundation, are presenting “A Taste of ReelAbilities,” a film festival exclusively dedicated to showcasing films by and about people with disabilities.
Founded as a New York City film festival in 2007, ReelAbilities has evolved into the nation’s premier organization promoting awareness and appreciation of the stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities through film, aiming to create a more just, inclusive, and accessible society, both on and off screen. Setting the highest standards of accessibility and inclusion in the film industry, the festival is a rare opportunity to put the spotlight on disabled individuals as protagonists, role models, artists, and producers.
Daniel Van Sant, Director of Disability Policy at The Harkin Institute is thrilled to help bring “A Taste of ReelAbilities” to Des Moines saying, “The Institute has been intentional about supporting and promoting competitive, integrated employment in all fields, including in the arts. We are excited to highlight acting, filmmaking, and production in our disability employment work. And there’s no better place to celebrate these films than at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center, a space designed with inclusion and accessibility at its core.”
“We are delighted to collaborate with the Des Moines Art Center and The Harkin Institute in presenting ‘A Taste of ReelAbilities.’ By showcasing films that celebrate the talents and stories of people with disabilities, we foster deeper inclusivity and empathy both locally and across the wider community. This festival beautifully underscores the profound impact that diversity has on enriching our collective experiences,” said Jo Christine Miles, director, Principal® Foundation and Community Relations.
Film screenings will take place at the notably inclusive and accessible Harkin Institute located at 2800 University Avenue in Des Moines. All films include open captions and audio description capabilities. Film screenings will be followed by a conversation with individuals from the disability community related to the specific content of the films. Register for this free event online at desmoinesartcenter.org or call 515-277-4405.
Film details and descriptions:
Friday, October 4 at 6:30 pm
Film: OKAY! (The ASD Band Film), 2022
Documentary / 1 hour 26 minutes / not rated
Language: English
Director: Mark Bone
Description: OKAY! (The ASD Band Film) follows the members of ASD Band, featuring four talented individuals on the autism spectrum, as they take on the challenge of writing and recording their first album, and ultimately performing their first public show. Through a shared love of music, Rawan, Jackson, Spenser and Ron shatter the stigma of those with autism as loners, coming together to express themselves through song. Along the way we delve into the deep corridors of their lives, as they learn to navigate a world foreign to them by finding strength in others who share the same challenges.
Saturday, October 5 at 1:30 pm
Film: La Lucha (The Fight), 2023
Documentary / 1 hour 29 minutes / not rated *scenes of police brutality
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
Director: Violeta Ayala
Description: Feliza, Mareele, Rose Mery, and Miguel spearhead a movement advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. They gather and motivate hundreds during a 35-day, 250-mile journey across the Andes to reach the Bolivian capital, battling harsh conditions and hunger along the way. Confronting barricades, riot police, and hostility from fellow citizens, these activists persist and ultimately arrive in La Paz, rewriting national history.
Sunday, October 6 at 1:30 pm
Film: Name Me Lawand, 2022
Documentary / 1 hour 31 minutes / not rated
Language: English
Director: Edward Lovelace
Description: Lawand is a young Kurdish boy, deaf since birth. After a treacherous journey and a year in a Dunkirk refugee camp, the help of a deaf volunteer brings his family to Derby, where Lawand joins the Royal School for the Deaf. As he grows older, the film follows his dramatic progress learning British Sign Language, revealing a bright, charismatic, and inquisitive boy who discovers friendship and a new way to express himself.
For additional information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515-271-0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.
About The Harkin Institute
The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement is a nonpartisan policy research institution focused on the four main policy areas that shaped Senator Tom Harkin’s career: labor and employment, people with disabilities, retirement security, and wellness and nutrition. The Harkin Institute aims to improve the lives of all Americans by giving policymakers access to high-quality information and engaging citizens as active participants in the formation of public policy.
About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited (American Association of Museums) institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier—incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th- and 21st-century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental art for which the Art Center cares is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity.
About Principal® Foundation
Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal® Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal® Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal® Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal® Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so.
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