Daruma returns to theaters for Disability Pride Month screenings

DARUMA is heading back to theaters in July for a limited run tied to Disability Pride Month, with part of ticket sales benefiting the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The film is also notable for its disability representation, festival awards and continued availability on streaming platforms.

Why it matters: - DARUMA is using its July theatrical return to spotlight Disability Pride Month and disability representation on screen. - A portion of ticket proceeds will support the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s work on paralysis research, care and family support. - The film is positioned as a visibility play at a time when disability rights and protections remain under pressure.

What happened: - DARUMA, executive produced by Oscar winner Peter Farrelly, is returning to theaters this July for a limited run. - The screenings are being held in honor of Disability Pride Month. - The film will screen on July 15 at Sunray Cinema in Tampa, Florida; July 16 at Crest Theater in Sacramento, California, and Egyptian Theater in Boise, Idaho; July 17 at Smodcastle Cinemas in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey; July 21 at Greenbelt Cinema in Greenbelt, Maryland; and July 26 at The Hill Arts in Portland, Maine. - Ticket links are available at DarumaMovie.com.

The details: - Tobias Forrest won the Media Access Award’s Best Actor prize, presented by Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin. - John W. Lawson won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Actor at Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. - The cast also includes Abigail Hawk and Golden Globe winner Barry Bostwick. - DARUMA follows a man with paralysis who learns he has a daughter from a relationship before his spinal cord injury. - After taking the girl for a financial payout, he realizes he cannot parent her alone and enlists his grumpy double-amputee neighbor for a cross-country trip to her maternal grandparents. - The film centers on found family, forgiveness, second chances, fatherhood and belonging. - The Daruma doll becomes a metaphor for hope and second chances as the story unfolds. - DARUMA is described as the first film in U.S. cinematic history to star two authentically cast leads with disabilities in a narrative not about overcoming disability. - The film was written and produced by Kelli McNeil-Yellen and directed and shot by Alexander Yellen. - DARUMA took more than 17 years for the husband-and-wife filmmaking team to complete. - The movie was released in theaters and on digital platforms nationwide in 2024. - DARUMA holds a 92% Fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 98% audience score. - McNeil-Yellen received the Authenticity Award for the screenplay at the inaugural Indie Awards in December 2024. - For people unable to attend in person, DARUMA is streaming on Tubi and Amazon Prime. - Open captions and audio descriptions are available for viewers who are Deaf, hard of hearing or have low vision.

Between the lines: - The theatrical re-release blends community outreach with fundraising, turning the screenings into both a publicity moment and a support channel for disability advocacy. - The film’s festival awards and audience scores suggest it already has a built-in base of support beyond the limited July engagement. - The emphasis on authentic casting and accessibility features helps frame DARUMA as part of a broader industry conversation about who gets represented and how audiences can access the work.

What's next: - The July screenings will roll out at the listed theaters across six cities. - Proceeds from those showings will continue to support the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation during the run. - Viewers can also watch the film on Tubi and Amazon Prime if they cannot attend in person. - More information and ticket access are available through the film’s official site.