John Donvan

John Donvan and Caren Zucker’s IN A DIFFERENT KEY brings their autism research to the screen — Austin Film Festival review

Like so much else that simplistic forces in society try to force into a binary, autism is a spectrum. And while we may have heard the phrase “on the spectrum,” internalizing what it means is another thing. Donvan and Zucker take pains to show both ends, emphasizing that while it’s unfair and prejudicial to assume high-functioning autistic people can’t function just fine, it’s equally misguided to neglect just how much help those on the other end need, in some cases to keep from physically damaging themselves regularly.

Christina Huff, Jonathan Smith, Ann Rapp: Oxford Film Festival 2021 brings back the in-person experience with photos and interviews

The 2021 Oxford Film Festival was one of the first to dip its toes into doing the in-person screenings this year (March 24-28) which meant a return to doing red carpets and more. Under circus-style tents, in a convention center, in a hotel lobby, and outside a multiplex, filmmakers had their films screened, did Q&As, interviews, red carpet photos and more. The film festival weathered two separate tornado threats, rain, and brought the community of Mississippi film fans and filmmakers (many of whom made the trip from various spots around the country) back together in a warm and friendly return to the film festival world so may of us have missed for a year.