Ariel

Love Perseveres

Three unlikely friends with special needs challenge societal expectations and form an unbreakable bond, but when the nonverbal member of the group misses a message from the guy who loves her before he passes away from a heart condition, their friendship is put to the ultimate test.--

The star of the film is Ariel Garcia, who has nonverbal autism, epilepsy, and Tuberous Sclerosis. The film also stars Matthew Whetman who has traumatic brain injury (resulting in visual/hearing impairment) and Spencer Burton who has Downs Syndrome.

Ariel is a film that centers its dreamy story around the inner dialogues, hopes, fears, and dreams of individuals within the special needs community through the lens of friendship, love, and loss.

Starring Brianna Oppenheimer as the voice of Ariel. Featuring an original song by Peter “Wolfeman” Wolfe and Patrick “Brummel” Balfe. Score by Gerry Garcia.

Ariel Garcia was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1993. Ariel was
born with Autism, Epilepsy, and T.S. (Tuberous Sclerosis). Her
parents were told, on the day of her birth, that she would not
make it through the day and that they should prepare her funeral arrangements. When she made it through the night, they said she wouldn’t make it past the week. When she proved the doctors wrong, yet again, they still persisted that she wouldn’t live past the age of six. Lo and behold, she is 31 years old today and is a Special Olympic gold medalist for swimming.

Brianna Oppenheimer (Actress/Producer) was born in Pasadena,
CA. At an early age, she started performing with the Jacksonville
City Ballet and later attended New Orleans Center For Creative
Arts. She studied Theater at Desales University and Psychology at Marymount Manhattan College. She has been in numerous stage and film productions.