OC's first neurodivergent film festival showcases eight studios in Santa Ana

Orange County's first film festival exclusively featuring work by neurodivergent creators drew filmmakers and audiences to the Frida Cinema in Downtown Santa Ana on Saturday, as eight handpicked production companies presented their films at the inaugural event.

The festival, organized by Dana Point filmmaker Alex Astrella, reflects a growing push for authentic representation of neurodivergent artists in an entertainment industry that has historically excluded them from the creative process, according to Voice of OC.

Astrella, founder of Blu Star Productions, was diagnosed with autism at age two and told by his parents' doctors that he would not be able to have a career. He later earned an undergraduate degree in film from UC Santa Barbara and a master's in special education from Vanderbilt University. The festival took six months to plan, and organizing it was not without difficulty. "The biggest setback has probably been promoting the festival, getting the word out, and having the budget to make the festival happen," Astrella told Voice of OC.

Astrella handpicked all eight participating production companies for the daylong showcase, which opened at 3 p.m. and included Q&A panels with filmmakers and networking opportunities. "Each studio has its own flair," he said. When asked what he looked forward to most, Astrella said simply, "I'm really just excited to be present."

Among the featured organizations, Spectrum Laboratory premiered two films: "Single," which explores how LGBTQ+ neurodivergent people navigate relationships, and "Puppet Night," produced in five days for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Jason Weissbrod, head of film and acting programs at Spectrum Laboratory, described how the organization came together with co-founder Garth Herberg. "The two of us took our talents together and started Spectrum Laboratory with the goal of getting all this neurodivergent talent that we've begun to know and try to get them out there in the world," Weissbrod said, according to Voice of OC. Weissbrod has worked with the neurodiverse community since 2005 through The Miracle Project.

Dani Bowman, a cast member on Netflix's "Love on the Spectrum" and founder of Danimation, showcased student-made films at the event. Organizers incorporated accessibility features throughout, including subtitles for every film, sensory rooms, ushers for attendees with physical disabilities and virtual attendance options designed to limit overwhelming crowds.

The festival arrives amid longstanding debate over authentic neurodivergent representation in mainstream entertainment. Netflix's "Atypical," which aired from 2017 to 2021, featured an autistic lead character, but the actor who played the role, Keir Gilchrist, is not autistic, and neurodivergent artists were not involved in the creative process until the show's second season.

"It's going to be a really fun day to celebrate what Spectrum Laboratory's mission is all about, which is letting [neurodivergent] voices be heard and seen, and having an outlet to showcase their work," Weissbrod said.