Here's a message from the #BeingMichelle team leading up to @BendFilmFestival!! Sign up for the newsletter and join the movement to demand the basic human #RightToCommunication for Deaf/disabled people in the criminal justice system! www.beingmichelle.com

[Video description and captions: The video switches between a white male sitting outside next to a plant in a blue potter and an Asian woman standing outside surrounded by trees with a modern building in the background. The video ends with a movie poster for the documentary film Being Michelle with film festival laurels on it. The last slide states:

For Ticket Information: www.beingmichelle.com

Sign up for the newsletter and join the movement! #RightToCommunication

DELBERT: Hello I’m Delbert Whetter, and I am the executive producer of Being Michelle, which is showing in the documentary features competition at the 2022 Bend Film Festival. I grew up in Eugene, Oregon and Bend was always one of my favorite places to visit. I am excited to share our film with Oregonians and look forward to watching amazing films together with you during the festival.

MEI: Hello, my name is Dr. Mei Kennedy, and I am the Social Impact Advisor for the film, Being Michelle. This will be my first trip to Bend, Oregon. I heard that it is a beautiful place!

DELBERT: BEING MICHELLE is an award-winning documentary film about a deaf woman with autism who survived incarceration and abuse in a system that refused to accommodate her needs. Today, Michelle is unpacking her traumatic experiences of her childhood and in the criminal justice system using her voice, strength, and her artwork to tell her story.

MEI: Can you imagine not understanding why you were arrested? Not being able to communicate? Among the many reasons why I believe this film is important is that it calls attention to human rights issues, particularly the right to communicate, as well as the need for criminal justice reform.

DELBERT: Deaf and disabled stories have long been told through the lens of people from outside of our community. This film is special because it was produced by an inclusive team of deaf and hearing filmmakers, who are passionate about ensuring Michelle’s story and her voice is shared on her terms through her hands, her artwork, and her loved ones.

MEI: Join us at the festival on Friday, October 7th at 10 AM and Saturday, October 8th at 3:30 PM to watch the film. Oregon residents will be able to stream the film during the week of October 10 through 18 (corrected). I cannot wait to see you there!