ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is the flagship ReelAbilities Festival, the largest festival in the U.S. dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. The annual festival presents award-winning films by and about people with disabilities, accompanied by post-screening discussions and other engaging programs, bringing together the community to explore, discuss, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.
Following the NY edition, filmmakers are invited to participate in the ReelAbilities affiliate festivals program, bringing their films to ReelAbilities festivals and programs presented in cities across North America.
As part of the ReelAbilities accessibility mission, produces and presents all films open captions and closed audio description. In person events include accessible venues and seating, CART (live-captions), ASL interpretation, braille materials and sensory friendly spaces.
ReelAbilities is committed to support disabled filmmakers and amplify their stories. We do so by offering resources, mentorship and support in the full life-span of the film:
From development and financing, through our pitch competitions and fiscal sponsorship programs, through mentorship and accessibility assets productions, to exhibition and distribition, through our festivals network, streaming platform, industry connections, distribution support and more. To learn more, please visit reelabilities.org
ReelAbilities Film Festival is a BAFTA qualifying festival in the shorts category.