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Poster for Disfluency
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Disfluency

Director: Anna Baumgarten Run Time: 97 min. Format: DCP Rating: NR Release Year: 2025

Starring: Libe Barer, Ariela Barer, Chelsea Alden, Dylan Arnold, Travis Tope, Kimiko Singer, Molly Hagan, Ricky Wayne, Diana DeLaCruz, Wayne David Parker

Followed by a Q&A with writer/director Anna Baumgarten and actors Libe Barer, Ariela Barer, Dylan Arnold, and Chelsea Alden. To make an additional $10 donation to The Future of Film is Female, select the “Event + Donation” ticket on the checkout screen.

To everyone’s surprise, “Jane the Brain” flunks her final college class and retreats to her Michigan hometown by the lake. Her parents, sister, townie friends, and an old high school crush soften the burden of failure, and it’s long before this misstep feels more like an opportunity at one last care-free summer vacation. She rekindles a friendship with her neighbor Amber, a single mother with a difficult toddler, and utilizes her skills as a linguistics student–including American Sign Language–to help Amber connect with her son. Despite her best efforts, however, Jane can’t keep the real reason that caused her academic disruption bottled up. She struggles with imposter syndrome, and her PTSD boils over. With the support of those around her, Jane unravels herself and starts the never-ending process of healing.

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