The Beacon Film Society is launching their spring season with We Can Be Heroes, a critically acclaimed 2024 documentary from Tribeca Films directed by Carina Mia Wong and Alex Simmons. For attendees of a live action role-playing (LARP) camp in Kingston, New York, the deeply accepting environment has given neurodivergent, queer, and self-proclaimed "nerdy" teenagers the space and community for self-discovery that they have never found anywhere else. As the campers immerse themselves in this imaginative world, they discover inner strength, heal from past traumas, and emerge as the heroes they are meant to be, both in the fantasy realm and in real life. The film premiered at SXSW in 2024, where it won a Special Jury Award for Bravery and Empathy, and it was the winner of the Audience Award at the Woodstock Film Festival that same year.
Q&A:
Q&A following the screening features film cast member Judson Packard, the executive director and owner of The Wayfinder Experience in Kingston, NY.
SYNOPSIS:
Sometimes, finding your tribe requires a bit of magic. Deep in the forest, where fur-lined armor is handmade and lightsaber combat is a daily ritual, a group of teens embark on a quest of legendary proportions. For attendees of a live action role-playing (LARP) camp in upstate New York, the accepting environment gives neurodivergent, queer, and self-proclaimed “nerdy” teens the space for true self-discovery. As the campers immerse themselves in an imaginative world, they discover inner strength and emerge as heroes.