RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A variety of films that spotlight autistic filmmakers and stories will be showcased at Marvels of Media Festival at Richmond's historic Byrd Theatre next month. In a March 25 press release, The Byrd Theatre Foundation announced the Richmond premiere of the Marvels of Media F estival, running from April 1 through April 5, at 2908 W. Cary St. The theater -- a premier national partner of the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) -- is one of only eight venues nationwide selected to host this year's expansion, providing the Commonwealth a curated selection of films that showcase the autistic community for the first time. "Marvels of Media is the first program of its kind to provide a formal platform for autistic media-makers," Byrd Theatre officials wrote in the release. "This expansion to Richmond is part of MoMI’s commitment to championing inclusivity and showcasing neurodivergent talent on a national stage." The Richmond program features "Flying Lessons," a drama directed by Sarah Waldron that follows an autistic teenager, Beatrice, who dreams of learning to fly. Beatrice is also navigating her new life with her estranged sister, per a release. Officials said the festival also highlights the "Wonderful World of DaniMation," which is shorts produced by DaniMation Entertainment, a studio that provides professional training and production opportunities for autistic animators. DaniMation was founded by Dani Bowman, known for "Love on the Spectrum." The program will also include the short series "Laugh, Cry, Scream," the horror short "Don’t Look Out" by Tal Anderson, known for the comedy-drama series "Atypical," the sensory-rich roller rink film "Watch Your Tone" by Dylan Carbonell and the comedic animation "Too Many Options" by Jacob Lenard. Organizers also said the festival will feature a family-friendly animation program, which consists of shorts, including the premiere of "Tim S. Turtle" by Harry Schad. The following programs all take place at The Byrd Theatre: 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1 – Marvels of Media: Across the Spectrum 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2 – Marvels of Media Movie Night: "Flying Lessons" 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3 – Marvels of Media: Double Feature Friday of "Autistic Mode: Dreamcatchers" and "Preface to a History" 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 4 – Family Friendly Programming: All Ages Animation 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 – Short Series: "Laugh, Cry, Scream" 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 5 – The Wonderful World of DaniMation with Dani Bowman 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 5 – Marvels of Media Closing Night: "Lone Wolves" For more information and tickets, which start at $10.43, visit the Byrd Theatre's website. ...read more read less