Short
Films
11:00-3:30
1st floor Dance Studio
JMAXX and The Universal Language (19 min)
Directed by Ryan Mayers

Jarell is teenager with autism who has learned to use hip-hop dance as a means to communicate his true self to the world.
A Critter Fable (7 min)
by Grace Fisher

"We have a choice to be held captive by our past expectations or we can be pioneers and embrace new possibilities." - Grace Fisher
“A Critter Fable” has been widely acclaimed in film festivals internationally, including wins for “best score” and “most inspirational” at Los Angeles Film Shorts 2021.
Grace Fisher was Classically trained as a Pianist and Cellist, she also excelled on guitar. Following Grace’s illness, she discovered a penchant for composition and creative avenues for musical expression including animation and multi-trac recording.
Just Ask!
written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
pictures by award-winning Illustrator Rafael Lopez.

Children with all different abilities come together to plant a beautiful garden. This story means a lot to the author and illustrator because Justice Sotomayor is a Type I diabetic, and Rafael Lopez’s son has autism. Justice Sotomayor was motivated to write this book because people made negative assumptions about her when they saw her treating her condition, and she knows that artistic expression has the power to change minds and improve lives.
A Memory Of Joy (5 min)
Liz Sung Productions
Choreography/concept by Robby Lee Williams

A joyful and poignant memory meaningfully experienced through art and movement.
Push, Pull, Entangle (4 min)
presented by MOMENTA Dance Company
Choreographed by Connor Cornelius
Directed by Sarah Najera
Filmed and edited by Joe Kreml
Music by Patrick Watson.

photo by Joe Kreml
A new release from MOMENTA Dance Company! This dramatization of a duet in disagreement explores expression and manipulation as with each statement they push and pull one another, in marionette fashion, as they navigate the issue at hand represented by a table.
Lost In The Woods (2:24 min)
Gaelynn Lea

Gaelynn Lea won NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest in 2016, and not long after she hit the road with her husband Paul. So far she has toured in 45 states and 9 countries, captivating audiences around the world with her unique mix of haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes. Gaelynn Lea has appeared in several major festivals over the years, including SXSW, Winnipeg Folk Festival, and Reykjavik Arts Festival. She has opened for well-known bands such as Wilco, The Decemberists, LOW, The Jayhawks, and the industrial rock supergroup Pigface.
ReinventAbility (1.5 min)
ReinventAbility enlightens perceptions of disability and inspires joy for all of us who seek a more universally accessible and inclusive future.
