For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Lisa Desatnik,
513-984-5474 or 513-262-4062
Public Contact:
or 513-861-5233
LINK FOR B-ROLL of the 2015 Film Festival:
LINK for MEDIA PAGE with VIP images and word documents:
Major Hollywood-Style Red Carpet Event
Highlights Star Gazing Opportunities AtReelAbilities
In true Hollywood style, Broadway, television and film stars will walk the Red Carpet in a major photo opportunity event on Saturday, March 11 at 5:30 pm at the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival. That event is one of numerous opportunities during the four day film screening extravaganza for the public and the media to get up close to the stars, the first being a major Welcome to Cincinnati: Meet the Stars Q&A kick-off event on Thursday, March 9 at 10:00 am. Note that all events will take place at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati.
Note: more information on celebrities is listed at the bottom.
Major Red Carpet Event
Get your cameras and your questions ready! Like the Oscars, the Cincinnati ReelAbilities 2017 stars will be on the Red Carpet just before entering the Cocktails and Zombies Party from 5:30 pm to approximately 6 pm.
Stars who will be appearing include: Ali Stroker (Glee and Broadway actress); Sam & Mattie (stars and screenwriters of Spring Break Zombie Massacre); Lauren Potter (Glee and ReelAbilities’ film Guest Room); Jamie Brewer (American Horror Story); Kurt Yaeger (Sons of Anarchy and NCIS: Los Angeles); Nic Novicki (actor, director, and Easterseals Disability Film Challenge), John Lawson (American Horror Story and ReelAbilities film Pursuing Happiness), Nick Kraft and Adam Shell (directors of Pursuing Happiness), Ben Duffy and Michael Sessano (directors of ReelAbilities film Tin Soldiers), Drew Lachey (98 Degrees and winner of Dancing with the Stars), Teddy Kremer (author, Reds honorary bat boy), Jenn Jordan (Q102 and Festival honorary chair).
Welcome to Cincinnati: Meet the Stars Q&A
The Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival organized by LADD will kick off with a publicWelcome to Cincinnati: Meet the Stars Q&A Event with many of the Festival’s big name celebrities including RJ Mitte, best known for his role in AMC’s Award winning thriller, “Breaking Bad”. From 10 am to 10:45 am on Thursday, March 9, the stars will be on a stage in the lobby area of the Duke Energy Center answering questions. Other VIPs who will be participating include: Jamie Brewer, Lauren Potter, Kurt Yaeger, John Lawson, Nic Novicki, Michael Schlitz, Bryan Anderson, Stephen Wampler, and Boone Cutler.
Other Red Carpet Events
Premiere Luncheon Red Carpet on Thursday, March 9 at 11:20 am with RJ Mitte, Nick and Nina Clooney and Lauren Potter.
Veterans Red Carpet on Friday, March 10 at 5 pm with Bryan Anderson and Michael Schlitz – both Purple Heart recipients, Gary Sinise Foundation Ambassadors and Film Festival speakers.
Local Night/Closing Night Red Carpet on Sunday, March 12 at 6 pm with local filmmakers, stars of local films, and local Cincinnati ReelAbilities Award winners.
Big Names To Participate in Cincinnati ReelAbilities Parties
Thursday, March 9 at noon: Over 650 will be in attendance at the Premiere Luncheon. Celebrities who participated in Meet the Stars, corporate and civic leaders will join in celebrating the opening of the Festival, Cincinnati. RJ Mitte will be the keynote speaker.
Thursday, March 9 at 6:30 pm: Premiere Night Reception and Film Event. Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Rich Clifford made United States history as the first NASA astronaut to have conducted a six-hour spacewalk while docked to an orbiting space station…and he successfully completed that mission while keeping perhaps one of NASA’s most significant secrets. He was newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease prior to take off. His incredible story will be the feature film with special guests Festival Co-Chair Dave Parker, baseball All Star and National League MVP; and Boone Cutler, Warfighter Rights leader and nationally recognized radio talkshow personality who is also a combat veteran.
Friday, March 10 at 8:00 am: Interfaith Breakfast. Richard Bernstein – triatlete, poignant speaker, and the first ever blind Supreme Court Justice in the US, will be the featured speaker at this kick off of a year-round effort in support of inclusion programs in faith communities through the art of film.
Friday, March 10 at 5:30: Veterans Reception: This is a pre-film gathering of veterans, community leaders and film sponsors recognizing the service and sacrifices of our military and veterans and acknowledging those that experience disability. Festival VIP, Michael Schlitz, retired US Army platoon sergeant, Gary Sinise Foundation ambassador and Purple Heart recipient will be the special guest and speaker. Festival VIP Bryan Anderson will also be in attendance.
Saturday, March 11 at 9:30 am: Veterans Brunch: This is also a pre-film gathering of veterans, community leaders and employers recognizing the service and sacrifices of our military and veterans and acknowledging those that experience disability. Special guest and speaker will be Festival VIP Bryan Anderson, aretired US Army sergeant and Gary Sinise Foundation ambassador and Purple
Heart recipient. Festival VIP Michael Schlitz will also be in attendance.
Saturday, March 11 at 5:00 pm: Cocktails & Zombies Party. Guests are invited to grab a cocktail and in true zombie fashion ‘raise the dead’ with emcees, Drew Lachey and Q102 (WKRQ)'s Jenn Jordan with guest celebrities, Sam Suchmann and Mattie Zufelt from Spring Break Zombie Massacre, and Lauren Potter (Guest Room, Glee), Ali Stroker (Glee) and Jamie Brewer (American Horror Story) to party before watching one of the breakthrough films of the year, Spring Break Zombie Massacre.
Sunday, March 12 at 7:00 pm: Local Films/Closing Night Party. Greater Cincinnati filmmakers and stars of the local films will be on hand to watch game-changing films made by and about local people followed by the Festival’s closing party.
Stars of 2017 Cincinnati ReelAbilities
Bryan Anderson
Anderson is a retired US Army sargaent and Gary Sinise Foundation ambassador and purple
heart recipient.
Richard Bernstein
A Disability Rights Attorney, he made history when he was sworn into office, becoming the nation’s first
state Supreme Court Justice for the state of Michigan.
Jamie Brewer
Known for her role of Adelaide ‘Addie” Lagdon in American Horror Story, she is also the first
model with Down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week.
Boone Cutler
Cutler is an author, columnist, music video director and Warfighter Rights leader that has become the first nationally recognized radio talkshow personality who is also a combat veteran from the current war. In 2012, Boone was diagnosed with Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease secondary to a blast-injury in Iraq and is the national spokesperson for the Warfighter Rights’ Movement.
John Lawson
Lawson is a television, film and commercial PWD actor with past roles in the long running
television crime dramas, "Law and Order," "Law and Order: SVU and FX AMERICAN HORROR
STORY: FREAK SHOW.
RJ Mitte
Known for his role in AMC’s ‘Breaking Bad’, he was also the face of the GAP’s International 2014 “Lived in Summer” Campaign.
Nic Novicki
Nic has toured around the country as a standup comedian. Included in his acting credits are tv shows:
The Sopranos, Private Practice, and Austin and Ally. He is also a producer and founder/director of the
Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.
Lauren Potter
As an actress, Lauren is best known for her popular role as Becky Jackson in the popular television show, Glee. However, she also devotes much time to advocating and raising awareness for disability related causes..and against bullying.
Michael Schlitz
Schlitz is a retired US Army platoon seargeant, Gary Sinise Foundation ambassador and purple
Heart recipient.
Ali Stroker
An actress known for her role in Glee, in 2015 Stroker made history by becoming the first Broadway
actress in a wheelchair to appear on a Broadway stage
Sam Suchmann and Mattie Zufelt
These two best friends from Rhode Island met in Special Olympics and are filmmakers of the wildly
popular, kick ass movie, Spring Break Zombie Massacre.
Kurt Yaeger
A former BMX rider turned actor, Yaeger is a below the knee amputee. His most recent TV credit s
include the fan favorite character on FX’s hit show Sons Of Anarchy, the new Cinemax show Quarry and
a new major recurring role on CBS’ hit NCIS: Los Angeles.
Stephen Wampler
As the world and his family watched, Steve Wampler who was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy,
pulled himself with one hand 20,000 times in six days to conquer the world’s biggest rock, El Capitan in
Yosemite National Park. The documentary of his journey was one of the 2015 Cincinnati ReelAbilities
Films.
Plus…local VIPs such as Cincinnati legend Nick Clooney and baseball’s fan favorite, Teddy Kremer
About 2017 Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival
Thousands are expected for the four-day, Hollywood style film screening extravaganza that will benefit local nonprofit organizations whose work is enriching and strengthening the lives of individuals who have disabilities, their families and their communities. It will include star-studded parties and events, workshops, speakers, conversation sports and more than 60 exciting films that show case the stories, lives and art of people who experience disabilities. Attendees will be able to learn how to act, model, tell their story, see entertainment, and create films on their smart phone. The goal is that people will leave having been uplifted with a new perception of difference, appreciation and welcoming of each other.
About the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival Organizer:
Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled (LADD, Inc.) is a 41 year old Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization that is guided by the belief that every person has ability and value, and that there is great strength in diversity. LADD works to propel the inclusion and success of nearly 500 adults in Hamilton County who have developmental disabilities through housing and employment options, life skills training, and advocacy leadership.
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