The 16th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York Announces Groundbreaking Program and Guests Showcasing Disability Inclusion in Film
Whoopi Goldberg to be Honored with Annual Spotlight Award at Opening Night
Festival to Host a two-day Industry Summit in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Celebrating and Examining Progressive accessibility Trends in the Film + Performing Arts Industries including dozens of guests
New York, New York (March 28, 2024) – ReelAbilities International is thrilled to announce its lineup of non-film events and industry programs to accompany the main film program as part of the 16th edition of its Annual New York flagship festival. The festival also announced its annual honoree, which will be EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg. Beyond being the voice for many social causes, and co-starring in the opening night film EZRA, Whoopi Goldberg is outspoken about her own dyslexia and disability rights.
Held from April 3 to April 10, ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is the largest festival in the United States dedicated to showcasing the best of international cinema made by or about people with disabilities, harnessing the power of film and the arts to celebrate disability, promote inclusion and advance accessibility, both on and off the screen.
The weeklong festival is renowned for its wide-ranging international film selection, groundbreaking events, riveting conversations, and performances, presented annually at prestigious venues across the New York metropolitan area.
“ReelAbilities is not just about the films, it is about the community coming together and is one of the leading disability arts events nationally,’ said Isaac Zablocki, Director and co-founder of ReelAbilities Film Festival. We are proud to help amplify the need for equity along with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, who is taking a leading role in our Industry Summit. We pride ourselves in raising the bar on accessibility and leading the art world’s standard for inclusivity.”
This year’s festival event highlights include:
- Opening Night Celebration – Featuring the NYC Premiere of Tony Goldwyn’s EZRA, welcoming the star-studded cast and crew on the red carpet, including Goldwyn himself, Whoopi Goldberg, young star William Fitzgerald, writer Tony Spiridakis, producer Bill Horberg and others, alongside a long list of other guest filmmakers and protagonists presenting their work at the festival. This year’s ReelAbilities Spotlight Award will be presented to Whoopi Goldberg by Academy Award Winner Troy Kotsur (CODA, 2022), as part of the opening ceremony. The film is an endearing and often funny exploration of a family determined to find their way through life’s complexities with humor, compassion, and heart., and also features Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne and more.
- Social Justice Friday – Putting a spotlight on the growing disability rights movement in Bolivia, via award winning documentary filmmaker Violeta Ayala’s LA LUCHA.
- The Future of Accessible Beauty, Fashion and Design Panel – Hosted by trail blazer Xian Horn (Give Beauty Wings) and featuring leading figures changing the face of these traditionally exclusive industries, including Bri Scalesse fashion influencer and disability advocate; Jillian Curwin, influencer, advocate, podcaster, and storyteller; Marilu Marshall, Estee Lauder Companies’ Global Chief Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Officer.
- ReelAbilities Comedy Night – A night of laughter hosted by Pavar Snipe and featuring acclaimed performers including HBO’s Live Comedy and Hulu’s Ramy Steve Way, and Maysoon Zaid, among others.
After presenting the festival with the City’s proclamation, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment will, once again, partner with ReelAbilities to present The Industry Summit returning for its third edition on April 8-9, both in-person and online, available to stream live nationally.
Serving as a collaborative space for industry professionals and disabled creatives, the Summit will discuss topics of accessibility, inclusion and representation in all aspects of the film and performing arts industries and explore beyond the basics into progressive best practices. Throughout the programming, Summit speakers will share their knowledge and experience providing participants with the tools to elevate accessibility and open pathways to deeper inclusion.
This year will include an expanded edition of its successful Crip Script Pitch Competition, to include both fiction and non-fiction film and TV projects in development, and a section for projects in completion / rough-cut stage with a cash prize supported by the Loreen Arbus Foundation. Leading industry organizations such as AMC Networks, American Masters, ITVS, Shine Global, Sunny Side of the Docs, Final Draft, Coverfly, A Woman of Her Word and Blackmagic Design, will all present awards, mentorship, production equipment, accessibility assets, and other industry opportunities to the winning projects in the different categories.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the ReelAbilities Film Festival and the Industry Accessibility Summit, which look to build support for the disabled community in NYC’s film and live performance sectors,” said Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman. “Accessibility and inclusivity within the creative industries is a primary focus of this administration, and this year’s Summit, along with the work being done by our Theatre and Live Performance Industry Council, move us even closer to our goal of ensuring equitable opportunities for all New Yorkers.”
Beyond the events mentioned above, all film screenings will be followed by a conversation with guest filmmakers, protagonists and other guests. In addition to the opening night VIP guests, some notable guests include Amy Smart (Varsity Blues, Starship Troopers), Brett Dier (Jane the Virgin), Abigail Hawk (Blue Bloods), and Tobias Forrest (multiple TV roles, including How To Get Away with Murder, Wisdom of the Crowd). For the full lineup of speakers and guests, please visit reelabilities.org/newyork/guests
Additional information about festival lineup, schedule, venues and tickets is available at ReelAbilities.org/newyork
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ABOUT REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL: NEW YORK
Founded by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan as a NYC film festival in 2007, ReelAbilities blazed a trail as the first event of its kind, exclusively showcasing films by and about people with disabilities.
It has evolved into the nation’s premier organization dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities through film, aiming to create a more just, inclusive, and accessible society.
At the annual New York flagship festival, ReelAbilities is renowned for its wide-ranging international film selection, riveting conversations, professional workshops and arts events, as well as a leader in setting the highest standards of accessibility and inclusion in the film industry.
The festival is a rare opportunity to put the spotlight on disabled individuals as protagonists, role models, artists and producers, all on the big screen.
Since 2012, ReelAbilities has expanded its impact by introducing its Affiliate Festivals Program, making it possible for organizations around the country and the world to present ReelAbilities in their communities, celebrating diversity and further spreading ReelAbilities’ mission.
In addition to its flagship and affiliate festivals, ReelAbilities offers a streaming platform – www.reelabilitiesstream.org, Reel Education, a year-round educational program, and ReelAbilities at the Workplace, presenting ReelAbilities content at corporations and organizations as a diversity and inclusion training tool.
For more information, please visit reelabilities.org.
Press Inquiries Contact:
Kelly Maicon / Aimee Tiberi
ReelAbilities Film Festival
