Ariel Baska

Ariel Baska is an award-winning, multiply Disabled queer horror and documentary filmmaker, who believes in advocacy and accessibility for historically underserved communities. Her horror short about medical gaslighting, Our First Priority, which she wrote and directed, won the Disability Advocacy Award from Superfest Disability Film Festival, and played FrightFest, among many other festivals. She has also produced several projects, both narrative and documentary, including Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters, about the creator of Hellboy. She spoke at SXSW in 2022 and 2023 on the topics of disability and accessibility in the film and television industry. She is a member of BAFTA, a fellow of the PAM CUT Sustainability Lab, endowed by the NEA for interdisciplinary artists, and a fellow of the RespectAbility Entertainment Lab. She has received grants for her work from NYFA and Alternate Roots. She is a podcaster, non-profit owner, and published author who curates creative spaces. Her work can be seen at The Gotham, the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, in Ghouls magazine and on Ride the Omnibus, her podcast and non-profit parked at the intersection of pop culture and social justice. In her past life as a teaching academic, she authored four books about curriculum for twice-exceptional gifted learners. Regardless of what story she's telling or what work she's doing, she cares passionately about the margins. Ariel lives in the DC area with her husband and two kittens.