Who We Are
Anita Altman
Co-Founder; Chair of National Advisory Committee
In her almost 3 decades working at UJA-Federation of New York, Anita helped put disabilities on the agenda of New York’s Jewish community, founding a Task Force on People with Disabilities, and with philanthropic support, she expanded and transformed programming for people with disabilities and their families served by UJA-Federation member agencies. Her vision was that a film festival sharing the lives and aspirations of people with disabilities could help raise the consciousness of the New York community about our common humanity and the value of each person, without regard to his or her ability or disability.
Isaac Zablocki
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Isaac Zablocki is the Director of film programs at JCC Manhattan. He attended film school at Columbia University and went on to work at Miramax films. Previously, he produced and directed feature films and developed film educational programs for the Board of Education. Since 2004, Isaac has been developing film programs at the JCC including The Israel Film Center. Beyond ReelAbilities, he programs multiple film festivals annually including the acclaimed Other Israel Film Festival about Arab and minority populations in Israel.
Ravit Turjeman
Chief Operating Officer
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One of the founding members of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, Ravit initiated her career as a film distributor and festivals programmer and producer. Over the past two decades, she has championed the works of hundreds of filmmakers, and spearheaded diverse film-related endeavors such as festivals, industry databases, streaming platforms and networks.
Lawrence Carter-Long
Director of Engagement
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Lawrence Carter-Long is a multi-hyphenate who has created, curated, critiqued, and consulted on projects for prominent organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Turner Classic Movies, and the American Film Institute. His contributions to cultural discourse include writing for esteemed outlets like Film Quarterly, PBS, The Atlantic, and USA Today. Lawrence is featured in the award-winning documentary “Code of the Freaks” and appeared as an actor in the NY Times Critic’s Pick “Best Summer Ever.” Additionally, he served as a consultant for the Disney+ feature “Out of My Mind.” A popular public speaker, Lawrence has lectured and curated programs on the history and evolution of disability in media at the Library of Congress, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and the United Nations.
Daniella Decker
Development Manager
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Daniella has served as the Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Officer within the Gender and Economic Inclusion Group at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and spearheaded numerous disability inclusion and accessibility strategy activities in the private sector organizations and enterprises. Daniella has consulted for various industry leaders on universal design and accessible transport, change management, and disability policy. Additionally, Daniella serves as a strategic advisor to Cephable, an assistive technology producer that equalizes gaming, shopping, education, banking and healthcare spaces for non-verbal consumers and employees, as well as an executive committee member of the Coalition of Accessible Technology (COAT).
Julia Betancourt
Administrative Program Associate
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Julia was named to Diversability’s 2023 Disability Impact List for her activism. She graduated with a BA from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she is Alumnae Class of 2021 President, and with an MSEd from City College, where she helped found the Alliance for Disability Inclusion, a committee to address issues of access for all people with disabilities on campus. She has previously worked at places such as the New York City Department of Education and the United Nations Secretariat. Julia’s writing has appeared in The Manifest-Station, The Mighty, ReadWorks, Immigrantly, and The Columbia Spectator, among other publications.
