Institute History
Description
Audience Award: U.S. Documentary, Presented by Acura
No one at Camp Jened could’ve imagined that those summers in the woods together would be the beginnings of a revolution. Just down the road from Woodstock, Camp Jened was a camp for disabled teens. Directors Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht (a former Jened camper himself) deliver a rousing film about a group of campers turned activists who shaped the future of the disability-rights movement and changed accessibility legislation for everyone.
Filled with the spirit, music, and humor of the era, Newnham and LeBrecht speak firsthand to the seeds of empowerment that were planted at Camp Jened. Incredible camp footage from 1971 captures how the campers were finally seen beyond their disabilities. Milestones in the disability-rights movement intersect with LeBrecht’s personal story and the stories of several Camp Jened alums, including then-counselor Judy Heumann. Heumann goes on to drive the effort for disability rights, playing an indispensable role in historic protests leading to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Crip Camp shines a bright light on a paramount and overlooked civil-rights battle, emboldening us to come together and spark great change.
Please note that wheelchair spaces at theaters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit sundance.org/accessibility for more information, or reach out to [email protected] with questions.
Closed captioning and audio description are available for this film. All Crip Camp screenings will have American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for the intro and Q&A before and after the film.
SPECIAL FREE SCREENING: As our way of saying thank you for supporting independent storytellers we are offering a free screening of this film on Saturday, January 25, 11:45 p.m. at Park Avenue Theatre. To get tickets join the eWaitlist online or on the Festival app two hours before film start time.