@ THE JCC METROWEST WEST ORANGE & GAELEN GALLERIES

ReelAbilities Film Festival WHEN: Opening Night Double Feature October 30, 5:00pm WHERE: JCC MetroWest, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange Shooting Beauty Tells the story of fashion photographer Courtney Bent whose career takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a hidden world of beauty at a center for people living with significant disabilities. On Beauty Photographer Rick Guidotti left the fashion world, along with its restrictive parameters of the industry's standard of beauty, and re-focused his lens on those too often relegated to the shadows. Rick is joining us for our post screening discussion! Complimentary photo shoot with Jan Press Photo for ticket holders. Limited availability--CALL TO RESERVE! ReelAbilities Film Festival: 2E: Twice Exceptional WHEN: November 3, 7:00pm This documentary follows the personal journeys of a group of high school students who have been identified as "twice exceptional."  ReelAbilities Film Festival Closing Night--In Partnership with the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival WHEN: November 5, 7:30pm A Blind Hero: The Love of Otto Weidt This docu-drama tells the story of a blind factory owner, Otto Weidt (Yad Vashem Calls him the unsung Schindler). Award-winning journalist and author, Inge Deutschkron, provides her incredible personal account of Weidt's shrewd efforts to save her, her Mother and the rest of his employees from the Nazis.  The 17th Annual New Jersey Jewish Film Festival Mark your calendars! The 17th Annual New Jersey Jewish Film Festival will run March 19-April 2, 2017. Become a Sponsor now (www.jccmetrowest.org/njjff) and enjoy Sponsor perks throughout the year! For more information, contact Carol Berman: cberman@jccmetrowest.org / 973-530-3421 The Gaelen Galleries Gaelen Gallery East September 11-October 23 Lorraine DeProspo, painting and Ellen Hark, mixed media Gaelen Juried Show award winners Arts/Theater Lobby  September 11-October 23 Cindy Klein, paintings Steiner Court and Arts Lobby Showcases  September 11-December 18 Book Arts Roundtable For more information, contact Lisa Suss: lsuss@jccmetrowest.org / 973-530-3413 JCC MetroWest School of the Arts Register NOW--only a few spots left Adult Painting Workshop - Tuesdays, 9:30-11:00am Ceramics Hand Sculpting - FREE TRIAL CLASS AVAILABLE Mondays, 7:00-9:00pm; Wednesdays, 10:00am-12:00pm Grade School Hip Hop/Acro - Mondays, 4:15pm Creative Clay - Wednesdays, 4:15pm Bollywood Blast! - Wednesdays, 4:15pm Early Childhood  Fun with Clay - Wednesdays, 12:45pm Creative Clay - Mondays, 2:10pm Environmental Art Explorers - Tuesdays, 2:10pm Ballet/Tap - Tuesdays, 2:10pm

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL, NEW JERSEY JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOW FILMS ABOUT DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

By Ruth Ross

WHEN: October 30 – November 5
WHERE: Maurice Levin Theatre, JCC Metrowest, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange
TICKETS: $5 per screening for $12 for a package that includes a ticket to each film screened there. Tickets may be purchased at www.boxofficetickets.com/jccmetrowest.
For more information about films and discussions at this venue, contact Carol Berman, Director of the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, at cberman@jccmetrowest.org or call 973.530.3421; you can also visit www.jccmetrowest.org online.

Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act over a quarter century ago, public awareness of the disabled has increased, as has their greater acceptance in the workplace—even in the movies and on television.

Capitalizing on this interest, Montclair is the site of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, with screenings at Montclair State University and the JCC MetroWest in West Orange from October 30 through November 5, 2016. This event is part of the largest disability film festival in the country and is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. The festival will feature cutting edge and sometimes controversial films that challenge assumptions and promote discussion about ability and disability.

The festival kicks off with a collaboration with the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, offering screenings at the Maurice Levin Theater in the JCC Metrowest Building, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange. The Sunday, October 30, screening at 5 p.m. will feature two films, followed by a discussion led by Rick Guidotti. “Shooting Beauty” tells the story of fashion designer who discovers a hidden world of beauty at a center for people living with significant disabilities. It is followed by “On Beauty,” a film by Guidotti, who left the fashion world and its restrictive industrial standard of beauty to focus his lens on people too often relegated to the shadows.

On Thursday, November 3, at 7 p.m., the festival will show “2E: Twice Exceptional,” a documentary that follows the personal journeys of a group of high school students who have been identified as “twice exceptional.” The post-screening discussion will be facilitated by Rebecca Wanatick (moderator), Sonya Selig (community building, awareness, organizing & lead for parent support groups), Alison Brown (Advocacy For Kids), and Beth Manes, Esq.

 

The final offering at this venue will be “A Blind Hero: Otto Weidt,” a docu-drama that tells the story of a blind factory owner who saved his employees from the Nazis. Among them was Award-winning journalist/author Inge Deutschkron, who provides an incredible personal account of Weidt’s shrewd efforts to save her and her mother. This film will be shown on Saturday, November 5, at 7:30 p.m. Elsa Zavoda (Program Director, Vision Loss Alliance of NJ) and another member of the VLA team) will lead the post-screening discussion. 

NEW JERSEY JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL PARTNERS WITH REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL WITH 4 FILMS ABOUT THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED

POST-SCREENING DISCUSSION FACILITATORS:

• October 30 – Rick Guidotti, photographer for On Beauty
• November 3 - Rebecca Wanatick (moderator), Sonya Selig (community building, awareness, organizing & lead for parent support groups), Alison Brown (Advocacy For Kids), and Beth Manes, Esq. 
• November 5 – Elsa Zavoda (Program Director, Vision Loss Alliance of NJ and another member of the VLA team). 

Livingston photographer Jan Press will extend his wonderful photography work to our ReelAbilities community with FREE (for ticket holders) photography sessions as well as a FREE portrait package.  There are still a few spots available.

FILM ABOUT HOLOCAUST HERO TO MARK PARTNERSHIP OF NEW JERSEY JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL & REEL ABILITIES:MONTCLAIR

In partnership with the Reel Abilities program of films at Montclair State University, the New Jersey Jewish Film Festival is offering a special screening to local cinephiles. Mark the date on your calendar and support this worthwhile collaboration:

www.boxofficetickets.com/jccmetrowest
973-530-3421 or www.jccmetrowest.org/njjff for information