Jacob Burns, the nonprofit cultural arts center in Pleasantville, N.Y., that encourages and celebrates diversity in filmmaking, will be screening Rocco Up, a short documentary about a nonverbal autistic boy (Rocco) whose father is teaching him to surf.
Rocco and his family, along with the film team, will be in attendance. They’ll also participate in what’s sure to be an interesting post-screening Q&A and reception. Here’s everyone participating:
- Sara Intonato, Rocco’s mom, who is also a neurodiversity consultant and advocate
- Ben Intonato, Rocco’s dad, who continues to take his son surfing almost every day (Rocco’s next frontier: paddling into a wave by himself)
- John Mader, the filmmaker
- Ruth Mamaril, who edited the film, and whose younger brother is autistic
- Sarah Kernion, moderator, who’s a dedicated neurodiversity advocate, writer and mother to three children, two of whom have non-speaking autism.
This will be a sensory friendly screening and there will be live ASL interpretation.
The night is being presented in partnership with The Nicholas Center, BluePath Service Dogs and Pleasantville SEPTA, and is part of the Community Matters: Now More Than Ever series at the film center.
