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SELECTIONS FROM THE 3RD ANNUAL NY DISABILITY FILM FESTIVALTO BE SHOWN AT ABILITIES!

Written by Lynn Bishop  |  26. January 2011

The 3rd Annual New York Disability Film Festival run by Reel Abilities (Manhattan, NY) returns to Long Island in early February for a limited engagement at a Nassau and a Suffolk venue, including three different films to be screened at the Abilities! campus in Albertson, NY, February 5, 6, and 7th. Reel Abilities (www.reelabilities.org) is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities and the three films to be screened at Abilities! include a story about autism, injured war veterans in Olympic competition, and a Chinese documentary about a movie theatre for people who are blind. Abilities!, which serves adults and children with disabilities, is one of only two organizations on Long Island to host the Festival. Cinema Arts Theatre in Huntington is the other. On Saturday, February 5th, Abilities! will screen My Spectacular Theatre at 8:00 p.m. The story focuses on Chen Yu, a hawker of pirated DVD's, who finds refuge in a Beijing movie theatre for the blind. On Sunday, February 6th, there will be a live performance by the FREE Players at 1:00 p.m., a musical group of individuals with disabilities, followed at 2:00 p.m. with the screening of Warrior Champions. The film tells the true story of two disabled Iraq War veterans who try to reach the Olympics. After the screening, the athletes and filmmaker will speak and answer viewer questions The Festival ends on Monday, February 7th with a 7:00 p.m. screening of Wretches and Jabberers. The film documents two men with autism - an artist and an activist - as they travel the world to change prevailing views of autism and intelligence. A post-film discussion with the featured artists follows the screening. Abilities! is located at 201 I.U. Willets Road in Albertson. All films will be shown at the Smeal Learning Center. Admission is $10 per person; $5 for students and seniors. To reserve seats (recommended) or for more information, call 516-465-1602 or visit www.abilitiesonline.org. You may also visit www.reelabilities.org for the complete festival listing.

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