One family's journey with autism through the lens of community in a small town in southern Arkansas.
Two estranged adopted sisters are forced together by their mother's sudden death: Beatrice, an autistic Chinese high school senior who wants to learn to fly, and Talia, a queer black musician who never wanted custody of Beatrice in the first place. Starring the autistic actress the story is based on, the film blurs narrative and documentary styles and showcases a unique and underrepresented perspective on death and grief.
In Columbus, Ohio, a group of autistic teenagers and young adults role-play this transition by going through the deceptively complex social interactions of preparing for a spring formal. Focusing on several young women as they go through an iconic American rite of passage, we are given intimate access to people who are often unable to share their experiences with others. With humor and heartbreak, How to Dance in Ohio shows the daily courage of people facing their fears and opening themselves to the pain, worry, and joy of the social world.
Patch the clown is about to retire. His last gig is to provide the entertainment at a party for Josh, a 16-year-old autistic boy. An incident with a drunk guest leaves Patch hospitalised and concerned about not leaving a legacy. Then Josh comes to visit him.
At the onset of the pandemic, a young woman, Sloane, reconnects with her estranged brother, Rivers. Faced with limited travel options, she embarks on a three-day trek, on foot, through the northern Ontario wilderness to reach her brother’s side. As Sloane's journey unfolds, it transforms into an eerie and beautiful odyssey, and her discovery of the wilderness intertwines with her quest for reconnection and self-discovery.
"Beyond" is a feature film documentary focusing on the life of Tamara Mark, who transitions from being a rising star in Broadway and Hollywood to a devoted single mother of two nonverbal autistic adults. The documentary showcases her relentless fight to establish a community for individuals like her children, aiming to provide them with a better and safer living environment.