Based on the bestselling book by Naoki Higashida, THE REASON I JUMP is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world.
The film blends Higashida’s revelatory descriptions of his autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people and their families in India, America, Sierra Leone and the UK. This global reach enables the film to celebrate diversity and difference in a deeply interconnected way.
Join novelist Ariel Kahn in conversation with David Charap, the editor of this transformative documentary. David will share his experiences of being immersed in the lives of some extraordinary families and discuss the way the film changes the way we think about autism - and the way we see the world
In partnership with Jweb – learning disabilities in the community. Jweb is the place to go for ideas, information, activities and events for parents, carers and professionals. A well curated user led resource sharing knowledge and expertise.
To submit a question to the speakers in advance, please email jweb@jweb.org.uk
David Charap
Editor David Charap has a varied career editing all drama and documentary formats. He has cut several feature films for distinguished directors including Terence Davies (SUNSET SONG, DEEP BLUE SEA) and Pawel Pawlikowski (MY SUMMER OF LOVE, LAST RESORT). His European credits include YEAR OF THE DEVIL, for which he was awarded both a Czech Lion and a Slovak Academy nomination, as well as the provocative new Swiss documentary NEMESIS, about a station being transformed into a prison that has just won top editing prize at Dok Fest in Munich. David’s most recent work includes Kevin Macdonald’s Covid documentary THE STORY OF US for ITV, Dominic Savage's Channel 4 drama series I AM, as well as the Netflix original TELL ME WHO I AM about identical twins facing their past. He was invited to take the immersive plunge into non verbal autism with THE REASON I JUMP having edited THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS a documentary about Edwyn Collins, the former rock star dealing with a debilitating stroke.
Ariel Kahn
Dr Ariel Kahn is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at Middlesex and the programme leader for BA Creative Writing and Journalism. He has worked as an editor at HarperCollins, and taught Film Students at the MET Film School. He has a BA in English Literature from Cambridge University, an MA in African and Indian literature from SOAS and a PhD in Creative Writing from Roehampton University. His debut novel Raising Sparks was a finalist in the 2018 Not the Booker Prize run by The Guardian, and voted for by readers. The Guradian described it as “vivid and enjoyable.” The Irish Times likened it to “Marquez in Jaffa.” He has won the London Writers Competition for his poem The Underwater Hospital, and the Bloomsbury New Voices Competition for his short story, Documents of a Family. He is currently working on his second novel.
