“Ben’s Animals,” a documentary focused on autism, art and advocacy, will make its US premiere in New York City during International Autism Month.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Evan Beloff, the heartwarming doc is scheduled to kick off at the Culture Lab LIC in Queens on Saturday, April 4.
Beloff co-wrote the film with longtime collaborator Noah Leon. It follows Canadian autistic artist and environmentalist Ben Lachapelle, 23, and centers on how he uses his connection to animals as an influential voice for change.
“Ben’s Animals” explores how creativity, identity and art have the potential to bridge the gap between isolation and community.
The doc also reflects on the many challenges families face while navigating neurodivergence in an often broken and fragmented support system.
“This isn’t just a documentary about autism,” Beloff said of the visually rich documentary.
“It’s about how one young man sees the world,” he added, “and how much we all stand to gain by listening.”
“Ben’s Animals” is told through a mix of hand-drawn animation, Lachapelle’s childhood archives, personal interviews and storytelling in the unique cinéma vérité documentary style.
An official press release for the film described it as a “poetic, moving and joyful portrait of a remarkable young man.”
The Culture Lab LIC doors open at 2:30 p.m. and the 50-minute film begins at 3:00 p.m.
Following the first-ever US screening of “Ben’s Animals,” Lachapelle will join Beloff and Leon onstage for a 30-minute Q&A session.
A pop-up exhibition and reception following the Q&A session will also reportedly include live drawing demos by Lachapelle.
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