Access: Horror Virtual Film Festival Sheds Light on Disability by ‘Centering Ableism as the Horror Rather Than Disability’

When Ariel Baska traded her 15-year career teaching Latin for the film industry, they were instantly faced with a series of unexpected guardrails. “I found that all of these doors were closed to me because I could not literally walk in the front door,” Baska tells Variety. “As someone who is on the deaf-blind spectrum […] When Ariel Baska traded her career teaching Latin for the film industry, they were instantly faced with a series of unexpected guardrails. When Ariel Baska traded her 15-year career teaching Latin for the film industry, they were instantly faced with a series of unexpected guardrails. “I found that all of these doors were closed to me because I could not literally walk in the front door,” Baska tells Variety.

“As someone who is on the deaf-blind spectrum and has mobility impairments as well, it makes it very difficult when you literally just can’t access the networking spots where everyone is gathered.” So, Baska decided to take matters into their own hands as the founder and co-director of Access: Horror, a disability-led horror and experimental virtual film festival. Access: Horror aims to provide access and representation to people with disabilities behind and in front of the camera. The organization brings