ReelAbilities Film Festival Cleveland and Akron

See an award-winning film celebrating the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. A panel discussion along with a Q & A will follow. ASL Interpreted.

See an award-winning film celebrating the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities.
This event is ASL interpreted.

1pm: Hearts for Music Reception in Meeting Room 2AB
Hearts for Music is a non-profit organization created to provide opportunities and avenues for individuals with special needs wanting to pursue their love for creating and performing music in a professional ensemble setting.

2pm: Left Alone Rhapsody film screening in the Auditorium, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

Panel discussion will feature Stewart M. Schulman, Director-Writer-Producer of the film; Alicia Hopkins, artist and advocate who inspired the Accessibility Library; and Kitrael Chin, Director and Founder of Hearts for Music, Inc.

Enjoy the Look Beyond Art Gallery installed by Summit Art Space in the Atrium and check out local organizations dedicated to accessibility.

ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the US dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Initiated in New York in 2007, the festival presents award-winning films by and about people with disabilities in multiple locations throughout each hosting city. Post-screening discussions and other engaging programs bring together the community to explore, discuss, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience. For a complete schedule of this year's events, visit the ReelAbilities Cleveland and Akron website.

At 25, Leonard Bernstein protégé, John Bayless, debuted at Carnegie Hall, performing “Rhapsody In Blue” with full orchestra. His jaw-dropping technical prowess at the piano initiated a 30-year-long concert and recording career as a solo pianist, composer, and improvisor. At 54, a left-brain stroke immobilized his dominant right side. The music stopped. John’s magical ‘first act’ disappeared.

Left Alone Rhapsody chronicles John’s rise from four-year-old Texas musical prodigy to international star; John’s fall post-stroke and courageous struggle to transcend paralysis; and John’s determination to re-invent himself as a one-handed musician and storyteller.

As neurologists discuss his brain, rabbis his Jewish conversion, friends the loss of his husband to cancer, and Yamaha’s representatives their Disklavier piano technology which could allow him to play with ‘two hands,’ John embarks on an amazing journey. This is his musical story. 1hr 40 min.

Please Note: Some films may contain content and language not suitable for children.

For questions regarding accessibility, please contact cadiv@akronlibrary.org two (2) weeks before the event.

For more information contact Culture & AV Division at cadiv@akronlibrary.org or 330.643.9015.

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