Announcement of the film program of the Over-the-Rhine Film Festival 2022
Fifty films celebrating diversity and the human spirit, including feature films, short films, student and curated films
CINCINNATI, May 18, 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The premier diversity festival in the United States led by the disability community, the Over-The-Rhine Film Festival presented by LADD, today officially hosted a presentation of independent films for the highly anticipated event announced will take place July 7-10, 2022 at a variety of venues in the diverse Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. With a rigorous screening and selection process that rivals film festivals like the Toronto and Cleveland Film Festivals, LADD’s Over-The-Rhine Film Festival received over a hundred entries from around the world; The plaque was unveiled today at a media event at SITE 1212 at the Art Academy of Cincinnati in Over-The-Rhine, one of the July film festival venues.
Entering its fourth year, the Over-The-Rhine Film Festival, presented by LADD, aims to foster conversation, engagement and action through the medium of film. The films will be screened at the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s SITE 1212, the Woodward Theatre, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and the Freedom Center during the four-day event in July. “The breadth and depth of films from such a diverse group of filmmakers is unparalleled,” said tt stern-enzi, artistic director of the Over-The-Rhine Film Festival. “These films truly represent the five pillars on which we base our selection process: Freedom, Identity, Diversity, Disability and Belief,” he continued. Mr. Stern-enzi is one of the most critically acclaimed black film critics in the United States and is known locally as “The Movie Guy” on Fox19 in Cincinnati.
On July 7th, the feature film Poppy by writer and director Linda Niccol opens the OTR Film Festival presented by LADD at 8pm at SITE 1212. Poppy is a young woman with Down Syndrome who is keen to take charge of her life and pursue her dream of becoming a mechanic; Expect love, laughter and drama.
From the programming submission page, the documentary Here. Is. Better., which addresses PTSD among veterans and allows them to share their own stories in their own voice, is featured. Rez Metal is a film that explores the journey of a Navajo band as they work with Metallica’s award-winning producer on their debut album. And Our Baby Knows, a short film by Cincinnati filmmaker David Chimusoro, follows a young father trying to explain a harsh reality to his son, using personal triumph to soften the blow.
In addition to Poppy on Opening Night, this year’s curated list includes Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi, a powerful musical odyssey that connects Muslim prohibition and the immigration crisis on the US-Mexico border to Japanese internment during World War II; Director Kate Tsang’s Marvelous and The Black Hole captures the coming-of-age story of a delinquent teen who teams up with a grumpy child wizard to navigate a difficult period in her life.
For the full film schedule, including a detailed list of films, venues and times, visit https://otrfilmfest.org/festival-schedule/. Tickets for the Over-The-Rhine Film Festival presented by LADD can be purchased online as virtual or personal passes and single tickets at https://otrfilmfest.org/tickets/.
About the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival
The Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival, presented by LADD, is the premier diversity film festival in the United States governed by the disability community. The founding sponsor of the festival is the Saul Schottenstein Foundation B along with executive support from Procter and Gamble. The festival will return July 7-10, 2022, presenting stories that celebrate the human spirit by providing audiences with a platform to see through someone else’s eyes. The festival is a catalyst for creating community and connections by telling stories untold. LADD brings the annual festival to Cincinnati to continue to reframe how we view disability in the entertainment industry’s ongoing discussion of diversity. Find out more at otrfilmfest.org.
About LADD
Guided by the belief that everyone has abilities and values, LADD empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live, work and socialize. Founded in 1975, Cincinnati is a nonprofit organization that today supports more than 650 adults with disabilities through housing, employment and meaningful community engagement programs. Learn more at laddinc.org.
For Media: Access this link to download assets from the Over-The-Rhine Film Festival
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contacts
Ann Keeling or Abby Clark
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