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 and The Harkin Institute with support from the Principal® Foundation. Kick-off event presented by The Varsity Cinema.
DES MOINES, IOWA (October 2025) – The Des Moines Art Center and The Harkin Institute, together with support from Principal® Foundation, present “A Taste of ReelAbilities,” a film festival exclusively dedicated to showcasing films by and about people with disabilities.
Founded in New York City in 2007, ReelAbilities challenges stereotypes, celebrates authentic disability representation in movies, and expands opportunities for disabled creators worldwide. In 2012, ReelAbilities began their Affiliate Festivals Program, making it possible for organizations like the Des Moines Art Center and The Harkin Institute to host a festival in the community.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with The Harkin Institute, with support from Principal® Foundation, to spotlight the voices and stories of people with disabilities. By creating a space for these narratives, we are actively building a more creative, inclusive, and empathetic community — one that sparks meaningful conversations with each other — and celebrates the power of storytelling,” said Kelsey Burr, Community Access Program Manager for the Des Moines Art Center.
In addition to films being shown at the Des Moines Art Center and The Harkin Institute, The Varsity Cinema will present a related film on Wednesday, November 5, leading up to A Taste of ReelAbilities on Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9.
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.
Please note the dates, locations, times, and fees in the details below. Films shown at the Des Moines Art Center and The Harkin Institute are free. Films shown at Varsity Cinema require an admission fee. The Harkin Institute is fully accessible. The Des Moines Art Center’s Levitt Auditorium is accessible by elevator. Guests with mobility issues will be seated in the upper level of Levitt Auditorium, which is wheelchair accessible.
Screening Information:
Wednesday, November 5 at 7 pm
The Varsity Cinema, 1207 25th St., Des Moines, IA, 50311
Film: Life After, 2025
Director: Reid Davenport
Run Time: 100 minutes
Description: Life After is a gripping investigative documentary that exposes the tangled web of moral dilemmas and profit motives surrounding assisted dying, from Reid Davenport, disabled director of films including I Didn’t See You There.
For more information and to secure tickets at The Varsity Cinema, visit https://varsitydesmoines.com/movies/.
Saturday, November 8 at 5 pm
The Harkin Institute, 2800 University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50311
Film: My Own Normal, 2024
Director: Alexander Freeman
Run Time: 57 minutes
Description: The latest documentary from disabled filmmaker Alexander Freeman captures his own unexpected journey into parenthood prompting difficult questions, and confronting common assumptions about autonomy, self-determination, and independence along the way.
Film: 17%, 2024
Director: Aaron Johnson
Run Time: 13 minutes
Description: Entrepreneur Collette Divitto, who has Down syndrome, transforms workplace culture through her successful cookie company. Addressing the 83% unemployment rate among disabled people, she builds an inclusive business model built on individual strengths rather than perceived deficits. The film follows Collette’s unique approach to hiring and workplace culture, showcasing the ripple effects of her leadership throughout the business community.
Film: Dreamcaster, 2023
Director: William Maher
Run Time: 27 minutes
Description: With the help of technology, Cameron Black, a blind sports enthusiast, fulfills his dream of becoming a sportscaster. Cameron’s passion for sports grows, leading to an opportunity to broadcast live games, showcasing how technological advances improve both accessibility and opportunity.
Sunday, November 9, at 1 pm
Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312
Film: Millstone, 2023
Director: Peter Hoffman Kimball
Run Time: 15 minutes
Description: A desperate, grieving couple thinks they have found the only therapist who can help them save their marriage – but his methods might be worse than anyone imagined. Featuring an entirely Deaf cast, Millstone is a dark thriller, filled with twists and turns, that offers a fresh, authentic perspective on the complexities of the human experience.
Film: As You Are, 2023
Director: Daisy Friedman
Run Time: 14 minutes
Description: When an interabled queer couple spend the night together for the first time, they must confront their complex relationships with desire, sexuality, bodily autonomy, and what it means truly to love another person.
Film: Comedy Against the Odds, 2023
Director: Suzanne Luna
Run Time: 30 minutes
Description: Ten-year-old Austin Eletto brings his personal perspective to the stand-up comedy stage, using humor to bridge identity and build connection. Through his witty observations and sharp timing, Austin crafts material that resonates with audiences while challenging assumptions about autism. The documentary reveals how comedy can be a medium for authentic self-expression and community building.
Film: Coming Out Autistic, 2022
Director: Steven Fraser
Run Time: 4 minutes
Description: Queer coming out stories are well documented, while telling friends, family, co-workers, and strangers that you are autistic is shown less often. But what is the experience of telling the world that you are autistic when you also identify as LGBTQ+?
Film: We are the Athletes, 2024
Director: Angel Gates Fonesca
Run Time: 37 minutes
Description: Through the experiences of Farryl, a young skier, and Matt, a veteran, the film explores how The Adaptive Sports Foundation in Windham, NY, creates new possibilities for athletic expression, and showcases innovative approaches to athletic training and competition. Their stories highlight how technical creativity and community support make diverse participation in sports possible.
For more information and to reserve free tickets to either the screening at The Harkin Institue or the Des Moines Art Center, please visit desmoinesartcenter.org.
For additional information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515.271.0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.
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 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 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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