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There will be a pre-recorded Q&A after the film featuring Ascendigo Autism Services President + CEO Peter Bell, and Aspen Film's Executive + Artistic Director, Susan Wrubel.



 


PETER BELL

As an advocate and father of a young man with autism, Peter has been a highly effective leader and a powerful voice within the autism community. Prior to becoming the President and CEO of Ascendigo in May 2017, Peter and his wife Liz served on Ascendigo’s Board of Directors. Most recently he served as President and CEO of Eden Autism based in Princeton, New Jersey. Prior to Eden, he was executive vice president for Autism Speaks where he championed several public policy changes and established the family services division. From 2004 to 2007, he served as President and CEO of Cure Autism Now, one of the country’s first autism advocacy organizations to focus on the science of autism. There he championed the passage of the federal Combating Autism Act of 2006 and 2011, launched autism insurance reform that led to the passage of mandates in over 35 states, and established the Autism Treatment Network (ATN).


Peter’s career also includes a White House appointment to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities by President Barack Obama, founding and chairing the Consumer Advisory Committee of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), and serving as the Vice-Chair of the Autism Research Program for the Department of Defense. In 2014, Peter received the INSAR Advocate Award for his commitment to research, advocacy, and services for people with autism spectrum disorders.


Peter earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS in Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He and his wife Liz have three children.


“Our vision at Ascendigo is to build upon a proven model that allows individuals with autism to thrive, reaching their potential within the communities where they live, work and play, regardless of their challenges.”


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SUSAN WRUBEL

Susan Wrubel is a seasoned entertainment industry executive and film producer who has served in a number of capacities throughout an extensive and multi-faceted career in the global film industry, including: film acquisitions, sales, development, production, marketing, and distribution.

 

Before joining Aspen Film, Susan was working with New York-based CinePointe Advisors, a film/television advisory group, providing strategic guidance and support to producers, financiers and production companies on packaging, sales, distribution and financing. She was also closely affiliated with LA-based Hyperion Media Group, an entertainment entity that develops, finances and produces film, TV and gaming content. Additional past clients include Back Up Films, Paris; UK-based international foreign sales agency The Salt Co; Orange Entertainment, an LA-based rep for international distributors; Pimienta Productions, and online film finance website, Slated.

 

She served as the Head of Acquisitions and Co-Productions for Paramount Classics, overseeing domestic international territorial acquisitions, as well as evaluating projects at script stage for co-production both in the US and abroad. From 1996-2000, she ran the theatrical division of New Yorker Films, where she worked with world-class international filmmakers.

 

Additionally, Susan spent some time in the non-profit arena curating project selection and as industry liaison for New York-based Independent Feature Project’s (IFP) No Borders 45-project, international co-production market from 2010-2013, as well as producing the 2012 edition of the IFP’s Gotham Independent Film Awards. From 2007-2010, she oversaw the Miami International Film Festival’s panel and seminar series, and handled the industry side of their Encuentros co-production market. She also advised the Rio International Film Festival on US feature film selection, and participated in their industry initiatives.

 

Susan is a co-executive producer on THEY, which premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. In addition, she was an executive producer on MAGGIE’S PLAN, which was released by Sony Pictures Classics in May 2016; executive producer on LA TIMES, which had its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival; Tribeca and Berlin award-winner JUNCTION 48, and the Netflix Original doc I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD on DJ Steve Aoki, as well as co-executive producer on Hyperion’s THE HALLOW which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film. She was also a production executive on the film STILL ALICE.

  • Year
    2020
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States