June 2019

Movies on Mental Health

There is still time to catch the final installment of the 11th annual Reel Mind Theatre and Film Series, which features films, performances, and discussions that address the social stigma of mental illness and behavioral disorders by providing a message of hope for recovery. The art and film series comes to close on Tuesday, June 18, at the Hart Theater at the Jewish Community Center. The evening will begin at 6 pm with a special juried art exhibit featuring pieces from the Mental Health Association’s Creative Wellness Opportunities program.

Documenting Differently Abled Design

At 7 pm, the film screening of DESIGN-ABILITY begins. This short film from Spain explores how a visual design company, La Casa de Carlota, harnesses the unique skills of a creative team that includes members with Down syndrome and autism to compete with the best design studios in the business. La Casa de Carlota has produced beautiful campaigns for clients like Nestlé, San Miguel, Danone, and Barcelona’s City Council. Through the experiences of five members of the team and their unique approach to life, work, and creativity, the film explores and celebrates the value of difference. The film screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with a counselor from the Rochester Psychiatric Center, as well as the art coordinator from the Mental Health Association’s Creative Wellness Opportunities program.

The final event of the evening is a sneak peek from the OC87 Recovery Diaries out of Philadelphia about a road trip across the Northeast (in a 55-year-old Volkswagen!) focusing on spreading a message of hope and suicide awareness.

Tickets for the evening’s events are $8 and available online, through NAMI-Rochester during regular business hours, and at the door of the event.