Mason Gross Filmmaking Center's Visiting Filmmaker Series featuring 'Crip Camp'

The Mason Gross Filmmaking Center presents our fall “Visiting Filmmaker Series” event, featuring James Le Brecht and Nicole Newnham, the directors of Crip Camp (2020), a documentary film narrating the story of the upstate New York summer Camp Jened created exclusively for disabled teen campers.

The exuberant delight of formerly suppressed teenage energy is depicted on screen but is then linked to the historically significant growth of the Disability Rights Movement in Berkeley, California. Several former Crip Camp participants reunite and band together to forcefully but peacefully advocate for full access and civic participation of individuals who self-identify as disabled in society at-large, culminating in the initial passage of the American Disabilities Act of 1980.

Crip Camp was nominated for an Academy Award and won numerous other awards, including “Best Documentary” from the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and the “Audience Favorite Award” at the Sundance Film Festival.

Following the screening will be a 30-minute panelist discussion with both directors by zoom, and live participation by Patrick Stettner, Filmmaking Center Chair, with Javier Robles (Kinesiology and Health) and Jeff Friedman (Dance), co-coordinators of the Rutgers Disability Studies Working Group.

This program is dedicated to the memory of Judy Heumann, one of the original participants at Crip Camp who became a world-renowned advocate, educator and leader of the Disability Rights and Disability Justice Movements.

Free; open to students, faculty and staff, and members of the community.

Accessibility Information:

• Accessible entrance
• Accessible seating available

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center is an accessible venue, with ADA-compliant restrooms and theater seating. As needed, please inquire at the following email contact: ns1199@mgsa.rutgers.edu for more information on seating selections prior to the event; if you wish to inquire about accessible seating at the venue on the evening of the event, staff will be able to assist you.