The Marvels of Media Festival returns for its fifth year, taking place March 26–28, 2026 at the Museum of the Moving Image. The event continues its mission of celebrating and elevating autistic media-makers through free screenings, exhibitions, panels, and workshops. Founded by Josh Sapan, former CEO of AMC Networks for 25 years, responsible for hit shows including Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead, among others, the festival creates a vital space for artists to showcase their work, connect with industry professionals, and build community.

In this interview, Sapan is joined by festival programmer Miranda Lee, who brings her own perspective as an autistic creative, to discuss the festival’s growth, its impact, and what to expect from the festival moving forward.

Marvel’s Media Festival can continue to grow as a networking and community space, and we can represent different people from different parts of the spectrum… I do believe in the power of people being brought together. Something that I have learned working with Marvel’s Media Festival is how incredible allies like Josh Sapan and the organizations we’ve partnered with—I mentioned Exceptional Minds and Spectrum Laboratory—are, and the fact that there are allies who recognize that autistic people, like Josh said, have these incredible talents and different ways of approaching how they create their stories—and they just need the tools and the support—and the fact that these organizations are developing those tools and supports, I think, is really meaningful.

Follow the festival online:
Marvels of Media

Follow our interview host online:
Sara Ciplickas

Support the show

Subscribe for Early Access and Video:
The Rolling Tape Patreon

Listen Here:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
All Listening Platforms

Have questions? Email info@therollingtape.com

Podcast Website Link
Website & Publications: www.therollingtape.com
Social Platforms on Linktree

Credits:

  • Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
  • Artwork: Danny Jarabek
  • Editor: Danny Jarabek
  • Assistant Producer: Evan Miller
  • Feature Image credit to Museum of the Moving Image