On Screen/In Person Film Series: Two Gods

An intimate documentary about faith, renewal, and healing, Two Gods follows Hanif, a Black Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer who finds spiritual grounding in his work and brings two boys from the local community under his tutelage – 12-year-old Furquan and 17-year-old Naz, neither of whom have fathers at home. Hanif teaches them the practices of Islamic burial rituals as they assist him with his work. Having served time in prison, Hanif continues to grapple with past mistakes and new challenges, while his faith and community help him guide his young charges on their own paths toward healing and embracing life. A moving portrait of both the intimate moments and complexities of the everyday Muslim American experience. Running Time: 1 hour, 26 minutes.

6:15 – 6:50 P.M. Community panel discussion. Panelist include:

Mr. Ahmed Ahmed, Lancaster City Council

Dr. Abdulsalami Ibrahim, Professor, Educational Foundations, Millersville University

Dr. Zeshan Ismat, Professor, Geosciences; Chair of International Studies Program, Franklin & Marshall College

Mr. Mukaram Syed, Islamic Community Center of Lancaster Board of Directors

7 P.M. Screening

Q&A with director Zeshawn Ali to follow screening.

On Screen/In Person Film Series – I Didn’t See You There

On Screen/In Person in partnership with the MU Disability Film Series presents “I Didn’t See You There”. Spurred by the spectacle of a circus tent that goes up outside his Oakland, California apartment, disabled filmmaker Reid Davenport joins us for a Q&A about the film with “launches into an unflinching meditation on spectacle, (in)visibility, and the corrosive legacy of the freak show.” The evening begins at 6:15 P.M. with a panel discussion, screening of the 90-minute film at 7 P.M., and is followed by an in-person Q&A session with Davenport. This event will be held in Steinman Hall at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Admission is free and the events are open to the public.

Panelists in the community discussion will include Jaclyn Nagle, Executive Director of the Disability Empowerment Center; Blue Guckert, Millersville student, President MUADAPT; Dr. Jessica Hughes, Assistant Professor in Communication & Disability Studies, MU; and Dr. Marco Di Giulio, Associate Professor of Hebrew Language and Literature, Franklin & Marshall College.

I DIDN’T SEE YOU THERE
As a visibly disabled person, filmmaker Reid Davenport sets out to make a film about how he sees the world, from either his wheelchair or his two feet, without having to be seen himself. The unexpected arrival of a circus tent outside his apartment in Oakland, CA leads him to consider the history and legacy of P.T. Barnum’s Freak Show and its lingering presence in his daily life in the form of gawking, lack of access, and other forms of ableism. Informed by his position in space, lower to the ground, Davenport captures indelible images, often abstracted into shapes and patterns separate from their meaning. But the circus tent looms in the background, and is reverberated by tangible on-screen interruptions, from unsolicited offers of help to careless blocking of ramps. Personal and unflinching, I Didn’t See You There forces the viewer to confront the spectacle and invisibility of disability. Offering both a perspective and stylistic approach that are rarely seen, Reid brings an urgently needed storytelling eye to filmmaking with a documentary that is powerful and emotional, thoughtful and raw, intimate and political.

On Screen/In Person Film Series – Julia Scotti: Funny That Way – FREE

JUST ANNOUNCED! Post-show Q&A with filmmaker Susan Sandler and MEET JULIA via Zoom immediately following the screening!

With breathtaking emotional honesty, this tender, funny, and powerful portrait of transgender comedian Julia Scotti explores the unrelenting courage and humor it takes to be Julia. Decades ago, Rick Scotti was a busy guy—appearing on bills with Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld, when he came to the dawning realization that nothing felt right, and Rick’s true awakening at age forty-seven led to a new identity as Julia Scotti. And then everyone turned away – most painfully, Julia was shut out from any contact with her children. Julia reinvented herself, spent a decade teaching, and then several years ago, stepped back on stage and began her journey back to the world she loves, and her children reached out to her after 15 years of silence. This film tracks Julia’s triumphant comeback and the complex process of reuniting with her children, as comedy becomes the shared language of identity, healing, and joy.

6:15 – 6:50 P.M. Community Panel Discussion. Panelists include:

Joanne M. Carroll (she/her/hers), Executive Director, Trans Advocacy Pennsylvania; Co-Chair, Keystone Conference; Commissioner, Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and member of Penn Central Conference of the UCC, Open and Affirming Ministry Team

Rachel SteelHeart, Program Director, Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition

Dr. Blaise Liffick Director of Operations, Silent Witness

J Whitlow (he/him) Director of Campus Life, Millersville University

7 P.M. Screening

A Night of Recovery

Host, Chris Dreisbach, is the CEO of Blueprints for Addiction Recovery and has been in recovery for over fifteen years. Dreisbach will be joined by the celebrity guests and WWE alumni Sean Waltman, AKA X-Pac, Curtis Hussey, FKA Fandango, and Jesus Rodriguez, FKA Ricardo Rodriguez. Come hear their inspirational stories and experiences as individuals in addiction recovery.

Tickets are Free, but seating is reserved.

Celebrating Moravian Manor Communities’ 50th Anniversary – Matters of Life: Supporting Family from Parenting to Caregiving

Holly Robinson Peete – Matters of Life: Supporting Family from Parenting to Caregiving

Moravian Manor Communities (MMC) celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a keynote speech by actress, author, talk show host, activist and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete. Holly shares a heartrending, candid look inside the personal journey of her son’s autism and her father’s Parkinson’s, and offers an inspirational roadmap for families facing similar challenges.

Tickets are available for the PRESENTATION ONLY in the Steinman Hall auditorium. The presentation begins at 8:00 PM with MMC highlights by President & CEO David Swartley, followed by Holly Robinson Peete’s keynote speech at 8:15 PM.

Free parking is available at the Prince Street Garage on the corner of Prince & Orange, 111 N Prince Street.

Ticket Price:
Presentation ONLY: $30.00

UTSAV (Indian Arts Gala)

IOLC (Indian Organization of Lancaster County | www.iolcpa.org ) proudly presents UTSAV (festival, celebration) “What does it mean to be Indian?” To be part of a living ancient culture with a rich, diverse and glorious history.

Join us on this discovery of India’s traditions and heritage – we’ll take you on a family-friendly and magical journey of this remarkable country through music, dance, and a very special spread of food dishes from various regions of India!

5:00PM: Doors Open
5:30PM – 6:30PM: Social Hour, with heavy hors d’oeuvres and open bar (Lyet Lobby).
6:30PM – 8:15PM: Cultural Program (Steinman Hall).
8:15PM – 10:00PM: Dinner & Dessert, featuring dishes from various regions of India and open bar (Atrium).

UTSAV (Indian Arts Gala)

Full event tickets have closed. Show only tickets are still available.

IOLC (Indian Organization of Lancaster County | www.iolcpa.org) proudly presents Utsav (festival, celebration). Join us for an enchanting evening celebrating the rich heritage of Indian culture through fashion, food, and storytelling. Indulge in a lavish spread of authentic Indian cuisine, tantalizing your taste buds with bold flavors and traditional delicacies.

The highlight of the night is a family-friendly, captivating cultural program featuring a stunning Indian fashion showcase woven into a powerful storyline of women entrepreneurs striving to create a global fashion brand. Witness the fusion of tradition and modernity as these visionary women navigate challenges, embrace their roots, and redefine global fashion with India’s timeless textiles. Experience elegance, empowerment, and exquisite craftsmanship in an unforgettable celebration of resilience, creativity, and cultural pride!

Preview video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JvdKy_BBOY

Event Schedule
4:30PM: Doors Open
5:00PM – 6:00PM: Social Hour, with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar (Lyet Lobby).
6:00PM – 8:00PM: Cultural Program (Steinman Hall).
*8:00PM – 10:00PM: Dinner & Dessert, featuring dishes from various regions of India and cash bar (Atrium).