The Marvels of Media Festival recognizes the outstanding media work of autistic media-makers through an exhibition, film screenings, and in-depth panel discussions. Emerging autistic media-makers will have a chance to learn from industry experts and independent filmmakers on the spectrum through professional development sessions, and media workshops. The 2025 Marvels of Media Festival will take place March 27–29, 2025. 

Marvels of Media is an ongoing initiative that showcases, celebrates, and supports autistic media-makers of all ages and skill sets through the festival, workshops and more. Throughout the year, autistic visitors will be given guidance and instruction and taught how to express themselves creatively and tell their stories through audiovisual storytelling techniques related to puppetry for the screen, filmmaking, game design, and animation. These media workshops strengthen the socioemotional skills of autistic participants through engaging, hands-on activities.  

This year’s Museum of the Moving Image programming and curatorial team includes Media/Access Educator Miranda Lee, Associate Curator of Public Programs Tiffany Joy Butler, and Director of Education Leonardo Santana-Zubieta. 

Special thanks to this year’s Steering Committee of artists, spokespeople on the autism spectrum, and experts in the field who help to guide and produce this program:  

Maylin Pavletic, writer/comedian
Jackson Tucker-Meyer, filmmaker and playwright 
Rosa Martínez, President and Founder of Strokes of Genius, Inc. 
Yaara Kedem, Film Event Accessibility Consultant and Producer 

The Museum has established the Marvels of Media Advisory Council featuring industry leaders including media executive William J. Abbott; Founder and Chairman of David & Goliath David Angelo; executive producer Rich Battista; neurodiversity advocate Wendy Belzberg; President of Landmark College Peter Eden; media executive David Epstein; actor and director Tony Goldwyn; producer Brian Grazer; media entrepreneur John Hendricks; President of the Jim Henson Foundation Cheryl Henson; Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Works Mara Manus; media executive Judy McGrath; CEO of CableLabs Phil McKinney; actor Sue Ann Pien; media executive Josh Sapan; journalist Paula Zahn; media entrepreneur Strauss Zelnick; and director Tony Spiridakis.  

Thank you to the 2024 Screening Committee for reviewing and rating this year’s festival selections: Tiffany Joy Butler, Louis Chesney, Miranda Lee, Rosa Martínez, Jackson Tucker-Meyer, Leonardo Santana-Zubieta, Maureen Thedford, and Taylor Diamond.

Special thanks to our partners: 

Exceptional Minds
Spectrum Laboratory
TechKids Unlimited
Strokes of Genius

Pictured in slideshow at top:  

1. Filmmaker Samara Huckvale and their creative team gather together on opening night of Marvels of Media Festival. (2023)
2. Filmmaker Kazuki Conover and his parents strike a pose at the Marvels of Media Festival. (2024)
3. Filmmaker Carrie Hawks flashes a smile and a pose at the Marvels of Media Festival. (2024)
4. A post-screening panel discussion with moderator Jackson Tucker-Meyer and filmmakers Dani Bowman, Natalie Hutchins, Violet Gallo, Tal Anderson, Jeremy Andrew Davis, and Kory Mann. Jeremy Andrew Davis speaks into the microphone, everyone turned to him. (2024)
5. Filmmaker Dani Bowman speaks into a microphone at a post-screening panel discussion. Filmmaker Natalie Hutchins sits beside her, hands held together on their lap. (2024)
6. In the packed Bartos Screening Room, audiences watch the stop-motion film Dangerously Ever After. The film shows a young boy in royal attire, holding up a sword with a puzzled expression. (2024)
7. At a post-screening panel discussion, filmmaker Daniel Oliver Lee speaks into a microphone. Filmmaker Madison Cahill, sitting near Daniel, turns to listen. (2024)
8. Rosa Martínez, President and Founder of Strokes of Genius, Inc, and a workshop participant at the Marvels of Media: Collage Animation workshop. (2024)