The Marvels of Media Festival kicks off with a festive opening night celebration recognizing the outstanding work of autistic media-makers. Throughout the weekend, guests are invited to explore exhibitions featuring virtual reality experiences, video games, and video art, as well as watch exciting, new comedies, animations, and documentaries followed by panel discussions. Audience members will have a chance to learn from professional filmmakers on the spectrum through a media workshop and networking mixer.

The free festival is part of the Museum's year-round Marvels of Media initiative, which showcases, celebrates, and supports autistic media-makers of all ages and skill sets. The third annual Marvels of Media Festival expands the Museum's accessibility efforts for autistic visitors through the creation of a sensory relief space in the Media Lab and sensory kits, which are available at the front desk.  

Schedule of Events:

1:00 pm: Playful Tales: Six Shorts

Location: Redstone Theater

Playful Tales presents six animated shorts for families and people of all ages to enjoy. Crafted by autistic animators, each short exhibits a distinct style and imaginative world, with lessons of creativity, perseverance, and accepting differences that relate to our everyday lives. Followed by a discussion with Harry Schad, Jacob Lenard, and Rae Xiang.  

Secret of the Hunter  
Dir. Jessica “Jess” Jerome. 2024, 7 mins. A young huntress, burdened with a hidden secret, tries to defend her new animal companion from an even larger threat in this film written, developed, animated, edited, and composed by students, alumni, and faculty from Exceptional Mind Academy's “Animation Club.” Marvels of Media partner Exceptional Minds is an academy and studio dedicated to preparing artists on the autism spectrum for careers in animation and the digital arts. Content warning:  violence, blood

Wilson S. Whale
Dir. Harry Schad. 2024, 4 mins. Wilson S. Whale is ridiculed by other whales because he spouts rainbow-colored sprinkles from his blowhole instead of water. One day, Wilson meets a lost fish named Guppy and the two embark on an adventure to find Guppy's family. Featuring animation reminiscent of a children's book, Wilson S. Whale teaches that anyone who feels different will find their true friends in the end.

Abelard the Traveling Hedgehog's Underwater Adventure with Max the Turtle
Dir. Pete Peterman and Ambrose Peterman. 2024, 7 mins. Abelard the Hedgehog and Max the Turtle venture into the depths of a lake, searching for the playful “Poconos” sea dragons. Through puppetry and do-it-yourself aesthetics, this whimsical short depicts a world inspired by the works of Jim Henson and Fred Rogers.

Joust My Luck
Dir. Jacob Lenard. 2023, 3 mins. In this animated comedy, Sir Sammy and the Great Rodney of Snobb compete in a jousting match. Joust My Luck harkens back to the slapstick, creativity, and wit of cartoon classics like Looney Tunes and early Nicktoons like Rocko's Modern Life.

The Ugliest Masterpiece  
Dir. Rae Xiang. 2023, 1 min. A Chinese American girl wants to make extraordinary drawings like her sister, yet she isn't happy with the result. Using 3D animation, The Ugliest Masterpiece thoughtfully represents Chinese American family life with an important message of self-expression and confidence.

Julius' Identity Crisis
Dir. Brendan Ratner. 2024, 1 min. This satirical short stars Julius the Cat, a public domain cartoon character who used to be a pop culture icon, playfully exploring the ways a character can be shaped in different contexts. Content warning: cartoon violence and blood

Free with RSVP.

Accessibility Information:
Location: Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, NY 11106, and the film screening will happen in the Redstone Theater.  

Transportation by subway: Closest subway stations are the R at Steinway Street and N/W at 36 Ave. Please check with the MTA for any service changes, especially on weekends. For other ways of transportation, please see this page.  

Wheelchair Access: The Museum is fully accessible by wheelchair. In the Redstone theater, there is space for wheelchairs near the entrance and at the back of the theater.

Captions and American Sign Language (ASL): The film screening will have closed captions for the films and ASL interpretation for the introductions and panel discussions.

Sensory Relief Space and Sensory Kits: There will be a quiet sensory friendly space for anyone who needs to decompress, located on the first floor. At the Admissions Desk, ask for our sensory kits which include ear buds, stress balls, and fidget toys.

2:30 pm: Life Lessons: Four Shorts

Location: Redstone Theater

The documentaries and narratives in this program spotlight some of the struggles and challenges the disabled and neurodivergent communities face, such as workplace discrimination, micro-aggressions, ableism, mental health, and late diagnosis. Rather than solely focusing on tragedy, these four shorts emphasize the individual and collective work that can be done to improve the lives of those in these communities, along with the importance of both acceptance from others and self-acceptance. Followed by a discussion with Violet Gallo and Carley Dummitt.

Unbreakable
Dir. Alex Astrella. 2023, 16 mins. Mixing found footage with interviews, Unbreakable shares the true story of an orthopedic surgeon who, through faith and perseverance, pushed through barriers based on her gender, ethnicity, and disability. New York premiere. Content warning: discrimination

Glitter
Dirs. Violet Gallo and Maya Velazquez. 2023, 15 mins. With Mandy Margot, Evie, Caroline Pastilha, Carly Gendell. A nerdy autistic teen throws a Halloween party in hopes of reconnecting with an old friend, only to be met with micro-aggressions from their guests who carry ableist bias. They soon must make a choice: rekindle a broken friendship or embrace their true self. Content warning: bullying

Surviving the Spectrum  
Dir. Carley Marissa Dummitt. 2024, 29 mins. Surviving the Spectrum explores the mental health struggles of autistic people in Oklahoma, highlighting the need for more research and advocacy. The filmmaker's firsthand and secondhand accounts, autistic people across age and gender, a mother who lost her autistic son, and a psychiatrist emphasize the importance of awareness and acceptance. World premiere. Content warning: bullying, suicide, and suicidal ideation

Late-Diagnosed  (pictured above)
Dir. Matthew Baltar. 2025, 4 mins. Matt often didn't recognize himself in photos and never really understood why—until one day his loss of hearing helped him see more clearly. This educational video breaks down what living with auditory processing disorder can feel like, as well as the complicated feelings that come with this and other diagnoses. New York pemiere.  

Free with RSVP.

Accessibility Information:
Location: Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, NY 11106, and the film screening will happen in the Redstone Theater.  

Transportation by subway: Closest subway stations are the R at Steinway Street and N/W at 36 Ave. Please check with the MTA for any service changes, especially on weekends. For other ways of transportation, please see this page.  

Wheelchair Access: The Museum is fully accessible by wheelchair. In the Redstone theater, there is space for wheelchairs near the entrance and at the back of the theater.

Captions and American Sign Language (ASL): The film screening will have closed captions for films and ASL interpretation for the introductions and panel discussions.

Sensory Relief Space and Sensory Kits: There will be a quiet sensory friendly space for anyone who needs to decompress, located on the first floor. At the Admissions Desk, ask for our sensory kits which include ear buds, stress balls, and fidget toys.

6:00 pm: Media-Maker Talk and Networking Mixer

Join us for a talk with autistic media-makers and representatives from organizations that work with autistic artists, including Jason Weissbrod from Spectrum Laboratory about tips on how to build professional connections, and how to create films, video games, and video art. Followed by a networking mixer with refreshments.  

Free with RSVP.

Accessibility Information:  
Location: Museum of the Moving Image is located at 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, NY 11106, and the film screening will happen in the Bartos Screening Room, which is on the first floor, towards the left side of the large staircase.   

Transportation by subway: Closest subway stations are the R at Steinway Street and N/W at 36 Ave. Please check with the MTA for any service changes, especially on weekends. For other ways of transportation, please see this page.   

Wheelchair Access: The Museum is fully accessible by wheelchair.   

Sensory Relief Space and Sensory Kits: There will be a quiet sensory friendly space for anyone who needs to decompress, located on the first floor. At the Admissions Desk, ask for our sensory kits which include ear buds, stress balls, and fidget toys.