Battling, Forming Friendships at Camp, and Selling Cookies Are Topics of NFMLA's Disabilities Initiative

      Fights, an autistic woman's journey to form friendships at camp, and a baking entrepreneur with Down syndrome were featured topics in the New Filmmakers Los Angeles InFocus: Disabilities program.

      The May Monthly Film Festival hosted by NFMLA also showcased writer-director Jess Dang’s debut feature narrative, Surrender, and began with a collection of student animations from Cal State University Long Beach.

      The juried CSULB Animation Showcase highlighted a variety of films utilizing different techniques, including computer-generated imagery, stop motion, and hand-drawn animation. Each film represented at least a year of dedicated work and development.

      The event continued with May Shorts, a series of films that explored complex dynamics and survival strategies.

      The InFocus: Disabilities program highlighted disabilities both in front of and behind the camera, showcasing stories that encompass both visible and invisible disabilities. This included coming-of-age narratives, romances, dramas, comedies, and documentaries.

      The evening wrapped up with Surrender, a deeply personal narrative about a young woman dealing with gambling addiction, aimed at fostering dialogue about addiction within Asian American communities. Surrender was expanded from a short film of the same name that was presented at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles in May 2023, and NFMLA warmly welcomed Dang back with the feature adaptation.

      Throughout the year, NFMLA presents films from filmmakers of diverse backgrounds within both general and InFocus programming. All filmmakers are invited and encouraged to submit their works for consideration in future NFMLA Festivals, independent of the schedule for InFocus programming, which emphasizes representation by highlighting various filmmaker communities as part of the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival. This initiative is partially supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

      Below are background details and interviews provided by the filmmakers.

      “Existing Patient,” directed by Aaron Abolt

      About Aaron: Award-winning writer, director, and producer Aaron Abolt began his career as a technician in Austin’s dynamic film industry, notably collaborating with director Andrew Bujalski on Computer Chess, Results, and There There over a decade. His short films have been featured locally and internationally. His latest film, “Existing Patient,” is a fully independent project where he played numerous roles, from financier to focus puller (among others). Outside of filmmaking, he enjoys holiday decorating, theme parks, and basketball, and seeks out opportunities that nurture community through joy and art.

      About “Existing Patient”: A chronically ill woman battles to obtain approval for her medication.

      Watch the NFMLA interview with Aaron Abolt, director of “Existing Patient”:

      “Will You Please Hit Me?” directed by Jack Frederick

      About Jack: Jack Frederick is an actor and filmmaker from Long Island, New York. As an actor, he has performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He once performed Waiting For Godot for inmates at the Livingston County correctional facility. His writing has seen his plays performed at the New Orleans Fringe Festival, Great Plains Theater Conference, and many small theaters throughout New York City. His works have been highlighted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time Out New York, Vulture, and Funny Or Die‘s Best of The Web.

      About “Will You Please Hit Me?”: When two women with a troubled past unexpectedly meet again at a bookstore, they decide to settle their differences with an honest fistfight.

      Watch the NFMLA interview with Jack Frederick, the director of “Will You Please Hit Me?”:

      “Surrender,” directed by Jess Dang

      About Jess: Jess Dang is a Chinese-American writer and director based in Los Angeles. Committed to collaboration, she aims to create stories that spark discussions. Jess holds an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BFA in Communication Design from Parsons School of Design. Her work has been featured in various festivals and showcases, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Newport Beach Film Festival, and DOC NYC at the IFC Center, as well as in The New York Times. Jess believes in the power of cinema to serve as a universal language and works to advocate for underrepresented communities, exploring themes of moral progress, mental health, and coming-of-age experiences through her narratives. Influenced by her backgrounds in music and painting, her storytelling is stylistically rich. She is a Film Independent Fast Track Fellow and a recipient of the NewFilmmakers LA NewNarratives grant, awarded in partnership with The Rhulen Family Foundation for her debut feature film, Surrender, which she both wrote and directed, with Andrea Bang from Kim’s Convenience starring and serving as executive producer. Jess admires filmmakers like Chloe Zhao and Mira Nair, enjoys visiting modern art museums, and goes kayaking to disconnect from her phone. She is an enthusiastic brunch-goer.

      About “Surrender”: Triggered by her past trauma and seeking an escape, Naomi, a young Asian American woman, delves into the world of blackjack to reclaim a sense of control