Third All-IN Film Festival set for Oct. 21-22

By Sequim Gazette Staff • October 18, 2023 1:30 am
Images courtesy of Peninsula College’s Magic of Cinema The film “Meet Munch Jr.,” which showcases a young artist who creates a colorful work and turns to his animator dad to help fulfill his aspirations of bringing the character Munch Jr. to life, is featured at the All-IN Film Festival, set for Oct. 20-21 at Peninsula College.
Images courtesy of Peninsula College’s Magic of Cinema The film “Meet Munch Jr.,” which showcases a young artist who creates a colorful work and turns to his animator dad to help fulfill his aspirations of bringing the character Munch Jr. to life, is featured at the All-IN Film Festival, set for Oct. 20-21 at Peninsula College.

Peninsula College’s Magic of Cinema is collaborating once again with Clallam Mosaic and host the third All-IN Film Festival, a free, inclusive film event featuring movies by and about individuals in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community.

Co-sponsored by Studium Generale and Services for Students with Disabilities, the festival is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, in the Little Theater at Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

A reception will follow the Friday evening event. At the Saturday event, writer Christine Motokane will be signing her book, “Working the Double Shift: A Young Woman’s Journey with Autism.”

Organizers say this year’s eight-selected films focus on self-discovery, particularly of artistic talents in ways that showcase the creativity and voices of neuro-diverse individuals.

The festival will be held on Friday, October 20th, at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, October 21st, at 2 p.m., in Peninsula College’s Little Theater. A reception will follow the Friday evening event.

At the festival, participants can also learn about Clallam Mosaic, a local leader for activities, information, advocacy tool kits, and more for people with special needs and their families, friends and caregivers. Led by executive director Julia Montagnet, program and communications director Catherine McKinney and board president Bonne Smith, Mosaic’s mission is to empower individuals in the I/DD community.

Those unable to join the festival in person can take part via Zoom at pencol-edu.zoom.us/j/81666965331 (meeting ID 816 6696 5331).

Four of this year’s films come from Sproutflix, a distributor that houses the largest and most diverse collection of films featuring people in the I/DD community.

“Laser Beak Man” tells the story of a child who was never expected to walk or speak but who overcame incredible odds to become an accomplished visual artist.

“Meet Munch Jr.” also showcases a young artist, Nikau, who creates a colorful work and turns to his animator dad to help fulfill his aspirations of bringing the character Munch Jr. to life.

“Ryan Matthews: Basically Me” is about artist Ryan, who is on the spectrum and has been perfecting his favorite subject: trains.

Finally, “Debbie Dreams” is a two-minute animation of a dream sequence from Debbie, a young woman with Down syndrome.

From Back to Back Theatre in Australia comes “Whatever Scares You,” the story of Breanna Deleo a young woman who identifies as neuro-divergent and is in her first year of work as a professional artist.

Finally, from Bus Stop Films, also in Australia, are three selections: “One Giant Leap,” a space-themed, stop-motion animation film produced by students in Bus Stop’s Accessible Film Studies Program; “Kill Off,” which tells the story of a woman in the I/DD community who forms an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee through their mutual love of KRUMP; and, “Be My Brother,” the story of a young man with a Dictaphone changing the perspective of two people he meets at a bus stop.

Those who miss the festival, will have a chance to join a Studium Generale presentation from Clallam Mosaic at 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Little Theater; it will include a discussion with a local artist and a screening of “Meet Munch Jr.” View the lecture on Zoom at pencol-edu.zoom.us/j/82308557946 (meeting ID 823 0855 7946).

For more information on the festival and its associated events, contact Dr. Helen Lovejoy at hlovejoy@pencol.edu or 360-417-6362.

American Horror Story’s Jamie Brewer stars as Sonja, a woman with Down syndrome who forms an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee through their mutual love of the street dance KRUMP, in the film “Kill Off,” featured at the upcoming All-IN Film Festival.

American Horror Story’s Jamie Brewer stars as Sonja, a woman with Down syndrome who forms an unlikely friendship with a Sudanese refugee through their mutual love of the street dance KRUMP, in the film “Kill Off,” featured at the upcoming All-IN Film Festival.