Come to Planet Alzheimer’s and Discover Film, Poetry, and the Human Spirit with Mary Crescenzo
Sep 16, 2025 11:31 pm
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Hello ,
AlzAuthors recently kicked off its very first film festival in celebration of our 10th anniversary, and the opening event set the tone for a season of honest, creative, and hopeful conversations about dementia.
In the first of our film discussions with their creators host Marianne Sciucco welcomed multi-talented artist, author, and filmmaker Mary Crescenzo to discuss her film, "Planet A," a project born from her decades-long commitment to arts engagement in dementia care.
A Journey into the World of Dementia—With an Artist’s Eye
Her artistic statement resonated throughout the episode: Planet A is a metaphor, a symbolic, observational, and imaginary reference to the inner world of dementia. It is cast age blind because this is not just an older person's disorder… These actors are portraying the essence of anyone who in their lifetime can experience some kind of cognitive decline and a connection with that world.
Here's the link to Mary's film FREE on YouTube. It's 112 minutes. Note: This copyrighted production is for viewing by AlzAuthors Film Festival registrants only and not to be copied or shared.
From Page to Stage (and Screen)
The Takeaway: You Are Not Alone
Marianne closed the session with a message that’s at the heart of AlzAuthors: “You are not alone.” The festival, like the films and books featured, is a way to ensure caregivers and families can draw support, ideas, and hope from one another and from the creative community.
If you—or someone you know—are navigating the dementia journey, consider exploring "Planet A" and the many books and resources available through AlzAuthors. As Marianne said, “If you read a book or two—or more—you’re going to come away a better caregiver.”
Here's the Lineup to the Whole Festival
Get all the details on the blog.
September:
Planet A by Mary Crescenzo—A poetic, theatrical journey into the world of Alzheimer’s, bringing real voices and experiences to the stage and screen. 112 minutes. Free on YouTube.
No Country for Old People by Susie Singer Carter—A riveting, three-part investigative documentary (as seen on Amazon Prime) exposing the challenges of memory care facilities. We're viewing Part One. 118 minutes.
Part 1 free on Vimeo Watch Parts 2 & 3 on Amazon Prime Video, $4.99
Film discussion: September 22, 2 pm EST via Zoom
October:
Lousy: Love in the Time of Dementia by Frank Silverstein—A heartfelt short film capturing the loving but difficult realities of caregiving for two parents with dementia. 15 minutes. $3.99 on Terra Nova Films
Film discussion: October 6, 2 pm EDT via Zoom
November:
Wine, Women and Dementia by Kitty Norton—Join Kitty as she travels cross-country to meet other caregivers, forming community and sharing laughter, tears, and hard-earned wisdom. 127 minutes. A PBS Exclusive one-hour version is now playing on local PBS stations around the U.S. Check here to see if it's playing in your area. From November 1 through November 30, the full-length feature (87 minutes) uncut and uncensored with more caregiver tales(!) than the PBS exclusive 1-hour version will be exclusively available to film festival viewers on Eventive for just $6. Get it here.
Film discussion: November 10, 2 pm EST via Zoom
December:
The Present by C. Nathan Brown—A moving family drama about navigating grief and togetherness after losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s. 21 minutes.
Film discussion: December 8, 2 pm EST via Zoom
Please rate, review, and recommend all of the films wherever you view them.
Be sure to watch the films prior to attending the discussions! We will NOT be showing the films during the meetings. The film series is designed for you to watch the film at a convenient time for you and then to gather together at an appointed time for the discussion.
Please share this email with everyone you know in Dementia World, especially caregivers who may be looking for valuable information and inspiration for their caregiving journeys.
More from AlzAuthors
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter/X and Blue Sky for caregiver tips, info and inspiration
- Check out our book collection with 400+ carefully vetted titles
- Listen to the Podcast
- Watch us on YouTube
Let’s gather together for this inspiring series, learn from each other, and celebrate a decade of stories that matter. Please forward this email to friends, family, and anyone who would enjoy these important films.
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Your Management Team
L to R: Vicki Tapia, Ann Campanella, Christy Byrne Yates,
Marianne Sciucco, Susan Landeis, and Jean Lee
How to reach us:
Marianne Sciucco: podcast host/producer
mariannesciucco@gmail.com
Jean Lee: acquisitions editor, Custom Caregiver Collections
jean@alzheimersdaughter.com
Vicki Tapia: acquisitions editor, children's books
vicki.tapia@gmail.com
Ann Campanella: Custom Caregiver Collections
anncampanella@gmail.com
Susan Landeis: Custom Caregiver Collections
contact@susanlandeis.com
Christy Byrne Yates: podcast host/producer, YouTube channel manager
christy@cbyates.com
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