AMC Theatres (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company, is partnering with the Autism Society and Area 23a, an event-based distribution company, for a unique, national theatrical run of the feature documentary WRETCHES & JABBERERS to commemorate National Autism Awareness Month in April.
SHOWTIMES:
Saturday, April 2 at 12 p.m.
AMC Del Amo 18, 3525 Carson St., Torrance, Calif. 90503
Saturday, April 23 at 12 p.m.
AMC Promenade 16, 21801 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367
WRETCHES & JABBERERS is a poignant narrative directed by Academy Award® winner Gerardine Wurzburg that follows two men with autism, Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette, who embark on a global quest to change attitudes about disability, intelligence and communication.
“AMC’s exclusive release of WRETCHES & JABBERERS speaks to people with autism in their lives and raises the awareness of those not familiar with this condition,” said Gerry Lopez, CEO and president of AMC. “Our showcasing this moving documentary is an extension of AMC’s commitment to the autism community through our Sensory Friendly Films program, which presents first-run theatrical films in a safe, accepting environment for families who live with autism.”
Area 23a will open WRETCHES & JABBERERS across the United States as part of a 40-city tour at AMC theatres in top markets — such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston — beginning April 2, which is World Autism Awareness Day. AMC will donate a portion of the ticket sales from the 40-city tour to the Autism Society.
WRETCHES & JABBERERS will premiere on April 1 for a limited theatrical run at the AMC Empire 25 in Times Square in New York — the busiest AMC theatre in the country, which hosts approximately 2 million guests every year. The company will also launch a limited theatrical run of the film in Los Angeles starting on April 15.
Throughout the month of April, AMC will market WRETCHES & JABBERERS through an Autism Society public service announcement featuring Thresher and Bissonnette, which will play at AMC theatres.
“AMC’s decision to showcase WRETCHES & JABBERERS in some of its most popular mainstream movie theatres echoes the movie’s powerful message of inclusion, and AMC’s commitment to improving the lives of all affected by autism,” said Lee Grossman, president and CEO of the Autism Society. “It is a powerful statement by a caring corporation to extend the mission of the movie, which is to challenge public attitudes about autism.”
AMC has been a staunch advocate of autism awareness since 2008 through its partnership with the Autism Society on the AMC Sensory Friendly Films program
(www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms).
The auditoriums dedicated to the program show new releases without the pre-show advertisements or movie trailers. The house lights in the auditoriums are turned up, the sound turned down and guests are invited to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing as they please. The showings of WRETCHES & JABBERERS will have the same auditorium and programming configurations as movies seen in the AMC Sensory Friendly Films program.
The idea for the AMC Sensory Friendly Films program began with a request from a parent with an autistic child for a special screening at AMC Columbia Mall 14 in Columbia, Md., where more than 300 people attended the first screening. Now, working with the Autism Society’s chapters, the program has expanded to 133 AMC theatres in 62 markets.
“As a leading theatrical exhibition company, AMC is proud to make a difference in the estimated 1.5 million Americans living with an autism spectrum disorder by offering families a chance to see a movie together, often for the very first time,” said Lopez.
WRETCHES & JABBERERS is also an example of the diverse movies AMC features through AMC independentTM, which provides guests with the best independent films and target interested guests through unique promotions and other customized marketing efforts.
“WRETCHES & JABBERERS represents our commitment to provide independent film to our increasingly diverse audience through AMC independent,” said Robert J. Lenihan, president of programming for AMC. “We intend to amplify our pledge of bringing these stories to our guests through direct partnerships with independent filmmakers and through film festival participation and promotion, in a more significant way than we have in the past.”
The movie is the latest documentary by Wurzburg who won the 1993 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for her film EDUCATING PETER and was again nominated in 2005 for AUTISM IS A WORLD.
“We are thrilled to partner with AMC Theatres and the Autism Society and be part of the call to action for the full inclusion of adults with autism in their communities,” said Wurzburg. “Tracy and Larry’s journey allowed us to portray the global face of autism, and now audiences across the United States will be able share in their story and better understand adults whose lives are affected by autism.”
To see a complete list of markets and AMC theatres where WRETCHES & JABBERERS will be playing and to buy tickets, please visit:
www.autism-society.org/wretchesandjabberers.
About the Autism Society
The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.
www.autism-society.org.
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