WXXI & GOLISANO FOUNDATION HOST A FREE SCREENING OF AUTISM IN LOVE ON NOVEMBER 30TH AT THE LITTLE THEATRE

For immediate release
Contact: Kristin Tutino, 585-258-0253

WXXI & GOLISANO FOUNDATION HOST A FREE SCREENING OF AUTISM IN LOVE ON NOVEMBER 30TH AT THE LITTLE THEATREPost-screening Q&A with Film Producer and Autism Experts 

(Rochester, NY) November 18, 2015 —As part of its MOVE TO INCLUDE initiative, WXXI and the Golisano Foundation host a FREE screening of Autism in Love, a film by Matt Fuller. Join us on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 7p.m. at The Little Theatre (L2) for this free Indie Lens Pop-Up series screening. The film will be followed by a conversation with the film’s producer Carolina Groppa via Skype, as well as Autism expert Lori Jeanne Peloquin, PhD, and AutismUp Executive Director Sarah Milko, who is the parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

In Autism in Love, four adults at different places on the autism spectrum open up their personal lives as they navigate dating and romantic relationships. Eye-opening, first-person portrayals show that despite many challenges faced by those with autism, love can find a way. Through these stories, we see that autism isn’t a one-size-fits-all disorder, and just like neurotypical people (those without developmental disabilities), those on the spectrum also experience the complexity, heartache, and joy that all come when making a romantic connection. Autism in Love was acclaimed as “affectionate but clear-eyed” by The Hollywood Reporter.

MOVE TO INCLUDE, a partnership between WXXI and the Golisano Foundation, is designed to stimulate community dialogue and promote inclusion for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Through programming and special events, WXXI and the Golisano Foundation look to build a more inclusive community by inspiring and motivating people to embrace different abilities and include all people in every aspect of community life. To learn more about this initiative, visit wxxi.org/include.

About the Filmmakers

After graduating from the University of Central Florida, Matt Fuller began working for Sony Pictures Entertainment on the thriller Vacancy. While on the Sony backlot, he went on to work for director Nelson McCormick as he directed two Sony feature films, Prom Night and The Stepfather. Fuller then transitioned to MBST Entertainment, working under seasoned producers Scott Kroopf and Larry Brezner as a Creative Executive, and then became Director of Film and Television Development where he supervised the development and production of Warner Bros.’s Arthur and Relativity’s Limitless. In the fall of 2012, Fuller began his career as an independent filmmaker by directing and producing Autism in Love. He launched The InSight Picture Company where he continues to inspire individuals and communities with compelling, cinematic stories.

About Indie Lens Pop-Up

Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics, to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. Can't attend in person? Find Independent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.

About Independent Lens

Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS Monday nights at 10:00 pm. The acclaimed series features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by Independent Television Service, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation at facebook.com/independentlens and @IndependentLens.

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