Films

As You Are

When an interabled queer couple spend the night together for the first time, they must confront their complex relationships with desire, sexuality, bodily autonomy, and what it means truly to love another person.

BEAR

Jude, a neurodivergent creative, tries her best to fit into a typical world. While desperately in need of a job, an already tense interview is made even worse by the fact that no one wants to mention the bear in the room.

Carpenter

In a remote mountainous region of Iran, Kurdish carpenter Hussein Mahmood trudges through the snow, searching for the best wood to craft artificial legs. In an area plagued by landmines, his careful work brings peace to victims of these indiscriminate weapons of war.

Daruma

When day-drinking, unemployed paraplegic Patrick finds out he is the father of a 4-year-old girl he never knew existed, he enlists the help of his double amputee veteran neighbor Robert to drive him and his newfound daughter across the country to live with her maternal grandparents.

Deaf Giants

Baseball-loving 10-year-old Bracken and his younger deaf brother investigate the contrast between early 1900s inclusion of deaf players in baseball and the present, seeking to understand why representation has regressed.

Dear Ani

More than 20 years ago, an aspiring songwriter, Keith Wasserman, began a creatively obsessive correspondence with music icon Ani DiFranco, believing her reply letters were encoded in the lyrics of her songs. Dear Ani is an odyssey of music, art, and mania.

Donald

A dancer moves with his wheelchair in surprising ways, pushing the art form’s boundaries, as he prepares for a live performance.

Dosh

When her son’s life is put at risk at their family’s pre-wedding ritual, a mother with hearing loss must decide how to seek help for her husband to keep her family safe.

Dungeons, Goblins and Broccoli

A group of avid Dungeons and Dragons players embarks on their next quest, but their game takes a turn when a newcomer arrives. Distracted by her presence, the players become embroiled in a competition for her attention, but how far will they go to win her hand?

Ezra

After recently wrecking his career and marriage, Max (Bobby Cannavale) is living with his father Stan (Robert De Niro), and is at odds with his soon-to-be ex-wife Jenna (Rose Byrne) about how to address their son’s Autism diagnosis. In an act of desperation, Max takes Ezra on a cross-country odyssey.

Good Bad Things

Danny, a young man with muscular dystrophy, steps out of his comfort zone and into the world of online dating after being disillusioned by failed relationships. An unexpected match with Madi, an enigmatic photographer, challenges him to be vulnerable and sparks a profound journey of self-acceptance, discovering the extraordinary beauty of his unique body.

How to Build a Life

Louis, a young man with Asperger’s, talks candidly to his older brother about a decade-long struggle with bullying that nearly ended his life. He finds strength in his unique passion for Legos and his loyal dog, creating an outlet for his creativity and healing.

Is There Anybody Out There?

While navigating daily discrimination, a filmmaker who loves her unusual body searches the world for another person like her and explores what it takes to love oneself fiercely despite society’s misconceptions.

La Lucha

Feliza, Mareele, Rose Mery, and Miguel spearhead a movement advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. They gather and motivate hundreds during a 35-day, 250-mile journey across the Andes to reach the Bolivian capital, battling harsh conditions and hunger along the way. Confronting barricades, riot police, and hostility from fellow citizens, these activists persist...

Left Alone Rhapsody

At 25, Leonard Bernstein’s protégé, John Bayless, debuted at Carnegie Hall, launching a 30-year-long recording career as a solo pianist, composer, and improviser. At 54, after a left-brain stroke immobilized his right side, John is determined to reinvent himself as a one-handed musician and storyteller.

Loud Love

Pushing back against ongoing prejudice, deaf gay couple Alan and Brian pursue parenthood, raising two hearing children through international surrogacy. Loud Love follows their journey of fatherhood, family, and relationships.

My Eyes Are Up Here

A broken condom sends a woman and her one-night stand out for the morning-after pill. Except it’s not so simple: she’s disabled, a woman of color, and around her, people magically transform into jerks. An eye-opening odyssey for him, just another day for her.

Name Me Lawand

Deaf since birth and unable to communicate with those around him, five-year-old Lawand undertakes a treacherous journey with his family from Iraq to Derby, home of the Royal School for the Deaf. When this new life comes under threat of deportation, they begin a new quest – a fight to stay in the place they...

Okthanksbye

Classmates at a boarding school for the deaf, shy Jamie and bold Imane set off on an unexpected road trip to Paris. When things do not go as planned, and the trip takes an adventurous turn, Jamie must come out of her shell.

Rally Caps

In this star-studded family coming-of-age drama, young Jordy, who is recovering from a serious Little League baseball injury, goes to summer camp where he forms a friendship with Lucas, who just had Cochlear Implant surgery. Together, they form a special bond as friends and pitcher/catcher duo and lead their team in the camp championship game.

Sea Legs

When Marius meets his girlfriend’s group of friends for the first time, he tries to hide his insecurities, but when the whole group decides to go swimming, he faces a difficult choice. Will he swim or stay on the beach and hide? What starts for Marius as a careless summer’s day evolves into a confrontation...

Sexual Healing

Evelien, a 53-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, sets out on a disarming and often funny quest for intimacy and exploration of her sexuality, unearthing needs she has been suppressing her entire life.

Tell Them You Love Me

This true-crime documentary follows the story of an esteemed university professor who becomes embroiled in a controversial affair with Derrick Johnson, a non-verbal man with cerebral palsy, leading to a criminal trial that would challenge our perceptions of disability and the nature of consent. Through exclusive footage and interviews, this feature documentary weaves a riveting...

To My Father

In March 2022, Troy Kotsur became the first Deaf man to win the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for CODA. During his emotional acceptance speech, Troy paid tribute to his dad, his “hero”. To My Father is the story of Troy’s father’s influence on him beyond the speech that moved millions.

We Care

Annie is surprised to find that her new care-taker happens to be a man, a very manly man. This poignant and humorous narrative takes a dark turn as Annie struggles with the shortcomings of the system designed to care for her.

Working Differently

Through a series of interviews with crew and established industry figures, we are exposed to the importance of accessibility and inclusion within the film and television industry and shown why this should become the industry standard.

Events

Facing the Falls

Tuesday Dec 3 | 7:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

On Display Global

Tuesday Dec 3 | 9:00 AM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Out of My Mind

Tuesday Nov 19 | 7:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

The Ride Ahead

Friday Nov 15 | 6:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

Tuesday Oct 15 | 7:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Renegades

Tuesday Oct 1 | 5:30 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

The Squeaky Wheel: Canada

Thursday Sep 5 | 7:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

ReelAbilities Live: Comedy Night

Tuesday Jul 30 | 8:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

THE DOS AND DON’TS OF DISABILITY REPRESENTATION

Tuesday Jul 30 | 6:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Closing Night Event

Wednesday Apr 10 | 6:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Inclusive Beauty, Fashion and Design

Wednesday Apr 10 | 5:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

ReelAbilities Live – Comedy Night

Tuesday Apr 9 | 8:30 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Rally Caps @ GCIFF

Tuesday Apr 9 | 7:00 PM | Gold Coast IFF at Manhasset Cinemas

Access:Horror Presents: Tropes and Traps for Filmmakers

Tuesday Apr 9 | 7:00 PM | Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – Stanley H Kaplan Penthouse

Daruma @ SIJCC

Tuesday Apr 9 | 7:00 PM | JCC of Staten Island Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC

Name Me Lawand @ MMJCCM

Tuesday Apr 9 | 6:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

REELABILITIES INDUSTRY SUMMIT: Disability Inclusion and Equity in Film + Performing Arts

Tuesday Apr 9 | 1:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Sexual Healing @ MMJCCM (Masked Screening)

Monday Apr 8 | 8:30 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Name Me Lawand @ JBFC

Monday Apr 8 | 7:15 PM | Jacob Burns Film Center

Left Alone Rhapsody – The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless @ MMJCCM

Monday Apr 8 | 6:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

REELABILITIES INDUSTRY SUMMIT: Disability Inclusion and Equity in Film + Performing Arts

Monday Apr 8 | 1:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Loud Love @ MMJCCM

Sunday Apr 7 | 5:30 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Rally Caps @ MMJCCM

Sunday Apr 7 | 2:45 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Is There Anybody Out There @ DCTV

Sunday Apr 7 | 2:00 PM | DCTV (Firehouse Cinema)

ReelShorts: (Neuro)Divergent @ MMJCCM

Sunday Apr 7 | 1:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Daruma @ MMJCCM

Saturday Apr 6 | 8:30 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Donald @ LCPA

Saturday Apr 6 | 7:30 PM | Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – Stanley H Kaplan Penthouse

Tell Them You Love Me @ MMJCCM

Saturday Apr 6 | 6:15 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

ReelShorts: Mental Health @ MMJCCM

Saturday Apr 6 | 4:30 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

ReelShorts: Out of the Box @ MMJCCM

Saturday Apr 6 | 2:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

La Lucha @ MOMI

Saturday Apr 6 | 1:30 PM | Museum of the Moving Image

Tell Them You Love Me @ Chelsea Factory

Friday Apr 5 | 7:00 PM | Chelsea Factory

Is There Anybody Out There @ Maysles

Friday Apr 5 | 7:00 PM | Maysles Documentary Center

Social Justice Friday: La Lucha @ MMJCCM

Friday Apr 5 | 6:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Tell Them You Love Me @ MAYSLES

Thursday Apr 4 | 7:00 PM | Maysles Documentary Center

Left Alone Rhapsody – The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless @ BPL

Thursday Apr 4 | 7:00 PM | Brooklyn Public Library

Okthanksbye @ MMJCCM

Thursday Apr 4 | 6:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Festival Pass

Thursday Apr 4 | 12:00 AM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Opening Night Celebration

Wednesday Apr 3 | 6:00 PM | The Times Center

OKthanksbye @ MC

Wednesday Apr 3 | 5:30 PM | Manhattan College Kelly Commons

ReelShorts at Manhattan College

Wednesday Apr 3 | 3:30 PM | Manhattan College Kelly Commons

In-person Accessible Screening of STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Tuesday Feb 20 | 7:00 PM | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Guests

Gloria Pitagorsky

Gloria Pitagorsky, managing partner of Heard City, the sound design shop behind a ton of the most extensive campaigns in advertising. Gloria is a 25-year industry vet who founded Heard City in 2012 with Phil Loeb and has since turned it into one of the top-performing audio post companies. Heard City offers sound design and...

Bri Scalesse

Bri Scalesse advocates for disability representation in the media and air travel rights for wheelchair users. She is a model and viral social media influencer. Bri also has an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Columbia University in New York City, where she now lives. Recently, she starred in the Academy Award and BAFTA qualifying film...

Danielle Sheypuk, Ph.D.

DANIELLE SHEYPUK promotes her very real message that people with disabilities are sexy, datable, educated, and glamorous – and that they are integrating more successfully than ever into the social scene. After an explosion of media attention when Dr. Sheypuk became the first model in a wheelchair to “walk” the runway at New York Fashion...

Charlotte Mangin

Charlotte Mangin is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over 20 years of experience, and the creator, executive producer, director and writer of UNLADYLIKE2020, an innovative multimedia series for American Masters in honor of the centennial of women’s suffrage. She began her career with five years on the production staff of National Geographic Television & Film,...

Violeta Ayala

Violeta Ayala stands as an award-winning filmmaker and a trailblazer in creative technology, recognized as the first Quechua member of the Oscars. Her work bridges storytelling with groundbreaking technologies. Her latest project, “Las Awichas,“ an XR film experience developed in collaboration with King’s College London, is currently on display at The Strand, one of London’s most famous streets. This exhibition,...

Faye Ginsberg

Faye Ginsburg is co-Director of the Center for Disability Studies and Director of the Center for Media, Culture & History at New York University where she is the Kriser Professor of Anthropology. She is author, with Rayna Rapp, of the just released book Disability Worlds, and co-editor of the forthcoming How to be Disabled In...

Sam Dijkstra

Sam Dijkstra is a filmmaker based in Amsterdam, working as both a screenwriter and a director. Sea Legs is his debut short as a director, while he is currently working in his first feature film screenplay. As a film director, he wishes to further flesh out the themes and story that he introduces with the...

Jillian Curwin

Jillian is a writer, content creator, and advocate for dwarfism and disability awareness based in New York City. She has written articles for Betches Media talking about disability representation in fashion and entertainment along with highlighting current events in the disability space. In addition she has consulted with brands and organizations about disability inclusion. She...

Marc Winski

Marc Winski is a dynamic and creative actor, speaker, and content creator specializing in disability representation in entertainment and media.  As a person who stutters, he is known for his unique and engaging content. His videos, which often feature his musical talents, comedic timing, and his knack for storytelling, have helped create a dedicated and diverse community in...

Adrienne Ackerman

ADRIENNE ACKERMAN (Original Song Writer, EZRA) is a singer-songwriter and screenwriter.   She wrote and performed stand-up comedy for five years until turning her attention to music and film.   Adrienne’s most recent work includes the composition of the original title song for the feature film ‘Ezra’, starring Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne and Robert De Niro,...

William Fitzgerald

WILLIAM FITZGERALD (Ezra) was discovered in an extensive nation-wide search for a boy on the autistic spectrum to play Ezra.  This film marks his professional acting debut.

William Horberg

WILLIAM HORBERG (Producer) is a partner with Zhang Xin in Closer Media, a new company that finances and produces films, series, and documentaries.  Their recent films include Ezra, directed by Tony Goldwyn and starring Robert DeNiro, Bhutanese filmmaker Pawo Dorji’s The Monk and the Gun, and Alex Gibney’s In Restless Dreams, a two-part documentary series...

Tony Spiridakis

TONY SPIRIDAKIS (Screenplay) is an award-winning director, writer, actor, and producer in film, television, and theatre, known for writing exceptional roles for actors. In addition to Ezra, his film work includes Queens Logic, which he wrote, produced, and co-starred in with Kevin Bacon, Jamie Lee Curtis, and John Malkovich.  He has developed scripts for Dustin...

Kovid Gupta

Kovid was raised in Houston and comes from an immigrant family. As a person of queer identity, he grew up loving Bollywood musical films. He earned a BBA, BS and BA from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by an MBA from Cornell University. Kovid began his career by screenwriting mainstream Hindi television soap...

Donald Lee

Donald Lee’s naive expression and experimental practice center on his evolving body, narrative, and belonging. His methodology transforms the aesthetic of damage into a system of repair. Donald is a member of Heidi Latsky Dance and Tap: On Tap. He has been profiled by PBS and New York Times. He presented at the 2023 HASTAC...

Alexander Yellen

Alexander Yellen is an experienced director, having been a regular on the Syfy Channel episodic zombie series Z Nation and having also directed 3 feature films, most recently the groundbreaking indie road-trip dramedy Daruma from Oscar-winning executive producer Peter Farrelly that will screen at the upcoming Slamdance Film Festival. He has won awards for his...

Leslie Freeman Taub

Leslie Freeman Taub (she/her) is a proudly Disabled movement artist, and a work of art in perpetual progress. In October 2023, she was featured in AND YET…, a showcase of new work by disabled choreographers curated by Heidi Latsky for Arts On Site, in which Leslie performed her solo David’s Lotus Sutra and debuted “Mourning,...

Marilu Marshall

Marilu Marshall, Senior Vice President, Executive Management and Global Chief Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Officer for The Estee Lauder Companies, leads the Company’s enterprise-wide Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (ID&E) program and works closely with Executive Management on a variety of business matters. She is deeply passionate about ID&E as a first generation American, born into...

Zazel-Chavah O’Garra

Zazel-Chavah O’Garra is a brain tumor survivor, disability advocate, social worker, dancer, actress, model, and founder and the visionary founder and Artistic Director of ZCO/DANCEPROJECT. Ms. O’Garra holds a Master’s degree in social work from Fordham University, and currently works with the Brain Injury Association of New York State and YAI/National Institute for people with...

Jason DaSilva

Jason DaSilva Film Director, Producer, Writer President and Founder, AXS Lab Jason DaSilva is a director, producer, writer and disability rights activist best known for the Emmy Award winning documentary, When I Walk, the first film in a documentary trilogy. The documentary follows his diagnosis of primary progressive multiple sclerosis for seven years as he...

Daisy Friedman

Daisy Friedman is a writer and director based out of New York City. Daisy uses her experiences as a multi-organ transplant recipient to create stories about underrepresented communities with a focus on disability and chronic illness. Her short film, As You Are (2023), has screened at various prestigious film festivals such as Frameline, Outfest, and...

Dr. Beth Bienvenu

Dr. Beth Bienvenu is the Accessibility Director at the National Endowment for the Arts, where she manages the NEA’s technical assistance and advocacy work devoted to making the arts accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and people in institutional settings. She provides guidance and support to state arts agency staff and professionals working...

Andrew Reid

Andrew Reid is a disabled Afro-Caribbean storyteller who tells stories grounded in drama but not bound by genre. He is the recipient of the African American DGA Student Award and is an MFA graduate from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He was recently nominated at the NAACP Image Awards, HBOMax Latino Short Film Competition...

Lauren Appelbaum

Lauren Appelbaum is the SVP, Entertainment & News Media, at RespectAbility, a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, and advances policies and practices that empower disabled people to have a better future. As an individual with an acquired nonapparent disability – Reflex Sympathetic...

Marilee Talkington

Marilee Talkington is a professional theater, television, film, voice-over, commercial, print, and motion-capture actor. She recently made history again as Morgan Le Fey in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Camelot on Broadway. (She is the first self-identified legally blind actress to be cast in a principal role on Broadway). Her acting career has spanned over 25...

Brittany Franklin

Brittany Franklin, the socially conscious creative behind award-winning content and powerful photography, reshapes narratives to champion equity for disabled women in film. Brittany founded the global initiative Minorities in Film (MiFILM), revolutionizing inclusion strategies and increasing visibility for BIPOC and disabled filmmakers. Born Hearing and now proudly Hard of Hearing, her advocacy, celebrated by leaders...

Adam Linn

Adam Linn is an a New York based writer/performer. His work has appeared in the New York Times and on NPR. His Moth Radio Hour story, “Dinner with Wonder Woman,” has over a million downloads. In “Sped Kid”, a heartfelt coming of age story, Adam takes us on a personal journey in a music-filled short...

Jenna Bainbridge

Jenna is a NYC based actor and disability rights advocate that has appeared in theatre productions across the country from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to The Public. She is currently performing in Suffs on Broadway. In addition to her work as an actor, she is the co-founder of ConsultAbility, a consulting firm that works with...

Ken Trush

Ken Trush is a Co-Founder and the Managing Director of Daniel’s Music Foundation (DMF). He works closely with the management team in the strategic development of their music programs and the marketing, development and operational areas of the Foundation. In 2020, Ken created the concept of The Danny Awards, an annual global award show that...

Kate Hammer

Kate Hammer is a writer, director, and performer born in Canada, and living in Scotland. An award-winning writer, director, and comedian, Kate strives to create community representation in order to tell the stories that need to be heard. Kate graduated with distinction from Concordia University’s Creative Writing BA, and Glasgow Caledonian University’s Television Fiction Writing...

Alice Elliott

Alice Elliott is an Academy Award-nominated documentary director of The Collector of Bedford Street. Her second film in a trilogy with Collector is the PBS Award-winning documentary Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy. She’s in production on the third film, Carrie On, about Carrie Bergeron, a motivational speaker and self-advocate with Down syndrome. Miracle on...

Alexa Smith

Alexa Smith is the inaugural Senior Director for Anti-Racism, Equity, and Belonging at The Public Theater. In this position. She is the EDI director for Broadway’s HELL’S KITCHEN, a new musical by Alicia Keys originally produced at The Public Theater and directed by Michael Greif. She is the host of WQXR’s “Young Artist Showcase” and...

Kerry Candeloro

Kerry Candeloro – Kerry (she/her) is a disabled theater worker, currently positioned as the Access Coordinator at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA). She is also a Disability Consultant with Disney Theatrical Group as well as The Walt Disney Company. In early 2024, Kerry began her tenure as Co-Chair of the Museum, Arts and...

Derek Dabkoski

Derek Dabkoski’s films have screened at festivals around the world, including SFFilm Fest, SF Doc Fest, Indie Memphis, Imagine Science Film Festival, and Santa Monica, among others. He won Best Director from the Courage Film Festival of Berlin and the Voices of Ability Award from the Portland Film Festival. He completed his undergraduate degree from...

Cameron S. Mitchell

Cameron was born in the small snow-covered town of Marquette, Michigan to his parents David T. Mitchell and Sharon L. Snyder who are considered influential professors and researchers in the field of Disability Studies. From an early age, Cameron’s parents brought him onto set of their award winning films on disability such as Vital Signs:...

Tony Goldwyn

TONY GOLDWYN (Director/Producer) has wrapped production on his latest feature directing project, Ezra, with Bobby Cannavale and Robert DeNiro.  Goldwyn also has a role in the film, reuniting him with Ghost castmate Whoopi Goldberg. He can currently be seen in the much-celebrated Christopher Nolan biographical film, Oppenheimer. Other recent credits include: Murder Mystery 2, the...

Whoopi Goldberg

Most recently co-starring in ReelAbilities Opening Night film, EZRA, Whoopi Goldberg is an Academy Award-winning actress, comedian, radio host, and television personality.  She is one of the only ten people to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award; and is the first woman to be honored with the prestigious Mark Twain...

Abigail Hawk

Abigail Hawk is a New York-based actor, singer, writer, humanitarian, and mom.  She began performing theatrically at the age of six and landed her first television role at twelve. Hawk graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland with a degree in theatre performance. Hawk is most recognizable as Detective Abigail Baker on CBS’ Blue...

Amy Smart

With her longstanding resume, Amy Smart has established herself as a versatile actress in both comedy and drama. She starred for 3 seasons as Barbara Whitmore, devoted mother to Courtney (Brec Bassinger), on The CW’s drama “DC’s Stargirl.” Smart can most recently be seen in the independent feature “The Christmas Classic” with Malin Akerman and...

Steven Verdile

Based in NYC, Steven’s work includes web design, print design, social media graphics, brand identity, copy-writing, and humor writing. As a lifelong fan of consuming content, he enjoys working on projects related to film, comedy and entertainment. Steven loves iced coffee, the limited-time-only seasonal items at Taco Bell, and the Muppets. Not ALL of the...

Maria Porto

Maria Porto is a Disabled, Indigenous, Latina Activist and Advisor. She founded ACCESS Broadway NY in 2022. Experienced in developing pathways for intentional accessibility for theater venues across the country she is a proud part of the disabled community and recognizes the barriers often placed within the theater and entertainment industries. In founding ACCESS Broadway...

Evelien Spreitzer

My name is Evelien Spreitzer and I live in Utrecht. The documentary SEXUAL HEALING is about my search for intimacy. I am handicapped from birth, spastic.

Jackie Roth

Jackie’s bilingual and bicultural background supported her work in both deaf and hearing businesses. Today, she is a real estate broker selling residential properties with a white glove company, Corcoran, in Manhattan. Since the pandemic, she’s reentered the entertainment field as an actor after a hiatus of more than 10 years through Deaf Broadway, on...

Isabella Bassett

Isabella Bassett is a producer based in Glasgow and founder of Scottish-based production company, Compatible Film & TV which seeks to tell exciting, diverse stories. Isabella has produced four award-winning short films which have screened at a host of UK & International film festivals. Isabella has recently been selected for the BAFTA x BFI Flare...

Anthony Michael Lopez

Anthony Michael Lopez is known for his role as Bruce on Michelle Buteau’s Netflix hit “Survival of The Thickest” and for originating the role of Sir Dinadan in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Camelot on Broadway. Other credits include Broad City, Homeland, New Amsterdam, and many other movies, TV shows, and national commercials. Anthony was born...

Jordan Moffet

Jordan Moffet is an award winning screenwriter who has written films for major studios, his credits include: Like Mike, George Of Jungle 2. He created the series Rhythm & Blues for NBC and has written for many shows including: Barney Miller, It Takes Two, and One Day At A Time. He has taught screenwriting at...

Shari Eberts

Shari Eberts is a passionate hearing health advocate and internationally recognized author and speaker on hearing loss issues. She is the founder of Living with Hearing Loss, a popular blog and online community for people with hearing loss, and an executive producer of We Hear You, an award-winning documentary about the hearing loss experience. Her...

Miriam Mintz

Miriam Mintz is the VP of Television for Likely Story where they produced the second season of Modern Love for Amazon, and Living With Yourself on Netflix. Currently they have shows in development at FOX, Peacock, MGM+, UCP and 20th. Previous to Likely Story, Miriam worked at GroupNine/JASH, IFC and Comedy Central.

Kimberly Manky

Kimberly Manky (she/her) is a writer working in both features and TV. She grew up in a very small town in Northern British Columbia with the highest violent crime rate in Canada (not her fault). At the age of 13, and inspired by Saturday Night Live, Kimberly approached the local cable access station and created...

Brett Dier

Brett is well known for his beloved portrayals of C.B. in ABC’s Schooled and Micheal Cordero in the CW’s hit series Jane the Virgin. Growing up in Canada, Dier knew early on he wanted to pursue acting. He quickly started to garner a large body of work within the Canadian market including multiple nominations for...

Danny Kurtzman

Danny Kurtzman is a physically disabled model, actor, entrepreneur, and advocate for the disabled community. Diagnosed with a muscular dystrophy at a young age, Danny never let his disability stop him from doing anything he put his mind to. Today Danny’s passion not only lies in making the world a more powerful place for all...

J. Fagotti (“Medusa”)

To make music like Medusa’s, you need three things: thick beats, visceral melodies, and an axe to grind. A storyteller at heart, the self-proclaimed “revenge-pop” musician aims to transform tales of queer joy, desperation, and agony into gratifying music “by any means necessary.” And they make good on the promise; their signature production style —...

Amanda Needham

Amanda Needham is the Managing Director of the Telly Awards, a 45 year old global award program honoring excellence in video and TV across all screens. The Telly’s recognizes work across TV or Online Shows and Series, Branded Content, Commercials & Marketing, Social Media, Immersive & VR, and Non-broadcast. Eligible work includes that created on...

Jo Sargeant

Jo is a neurodivergent writer/producer, performer and design who has been in the industry professionally since she was 12 years old. She graduated with a BA in Drama from University Winchester, and went on to gain her Masters at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). In 2012 Jo co-founded Hot Coals Productions with fellow...

Clare-Louise English

Clare is a Deaf filmmaker who lost her hearing as a teenager. She trained as an actor and has worked in theatre, film & TV. In 2012 she trained at RADA on the MATheatre Lab and, on graduating, Co-Founded Hot Coals Productions, alongside fellow graduate Jo Sargeant. Hot Coals specialise in making inclusive work accessible...

Hannah Currie

Director of Working Differently Hannah Currie (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker from Glasgow with a reputation for heartfelt documentaries about contemporary human stories. Her work includes Scottish BAFTA-winning and Grierson-nominated short That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, and BBC Scotland films Lauren Mayberry: I Change Shapes, Michelle McManus: Talent show winners, series Not Your Average Family,...

Keith Wasserman

Keith Wasserman is multidisciplinary artist and educator  who has won awards in his various roles as producer, writer, film editor, and songwriter. After graduating with honors from the Dramatic Writing Program at NYU Tisch school of the Arts,  Keith began his career as a wilderness guide and experiential  educator working with inner-city youth in various programs around the...

Donald Lee

Donald Lee is a conceptual mover whose naive expression and experimental practice center on his evolving body, narrative, and belonging. His methodology transforms the aesthetic of damage to a system of repair. Donald is a member of Heidi Latsky Dance and Tap: On Tap. He has been profiled by PBS and New York Times. Donald...

Nathan Morris

Nathan, a versatile Writer and Director, hails from New Zealand, where he honed his practical filmmaking skills, including editing for acclaimed TV programs. In 2000, he made a bold move to London, working with artists like Lady Gaga and networks such as BBC. Currently based in Brooklyn, NYC, Nathan directs spin-offs of popular TV shows...

Karen Varano

Karen Varano is NAMI-NYC’s Director of Programs and Services, overseeing the organization’s mental health classes, support and social groups, family mentoring, Helpline, and much more. Karen has been instrumental in the development of many of NAMI-NYC’s innovative programs, including those pertaining to suicide prevention and supporting young adults. Karen also oversaw the strategic growth of...

Michael Ehrenzweig

Michael Ehrenzweig is a Supervising Producer at ITVS and joined the organization in 2015. He is an active member of the Producers Guild Of America and has won multiple Emmy Awards. Before ITVS, Michael produced, line-produced, and production managed numerous award-winning documentaries and nonfiction films for PBS, The History Channel, HBO, National Geographic Channel, ARTE...

Peter Hoffman Kimball

Peter Hoffman Kimball is an award-winning screenwriter and director and, as the father of a deaf child, an advocate for d/Deaf representation. His 2023 film “Millstone” won the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival, and he has directed two films which qualified for the Academy Awards. His films have screened at the National...

Matthew Reese

Matthew directed his first feature film before the age of 21 and has since worked on multiple award-winning fictional and documentary shorts. His solo directorial debut was screened across the UK, including at London and Manchester Lift-Off Film Festivals. Since then, Matthew has focused on non-fiction stories, with one of his latest documentaries garnering two...

Dylan Tucillo

Dylan is an NYC-based director and published author. He studied at NYU Tisch Film School and spent the years since making films, writing books, and producing commercial content. In 2016 he began working with Columbia University, with a team that focused on public health concerns. Dylan created many videos for this team and among them...

Radha Mehta

Radha Mehta (she/her) is an award-winning Director/Writer/Artist with original works in film, music, and paintings. She earned an MFA in Film (Directing) at American Film Institute; is a RespectAbility Entertainment Fellow; and a voting member of The Recording Academy. Her works stem from personal experience as a South Asian first-gen mother with the disability of...

John Bayless

John Bayless is a pianist, composer, recording artist, and teacher. His recordings have topped the charts since the mid-1980’s. As a performer, Mr. Bayless has toured extensively in the United States, Europe, and Asia, appearing with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras at some of the world’s most famous venues. In 2008 a stroke...

Nick August-Perna

Nick is an award-winning director, producer, and editor whose work has been nominated for the Emmys, the Duponts, and the Academy Awards. His directorial work aims to present stories that challenge the shape and power of the documentary form, to inspire discourse, and to build empathy. His latest feature documentary, Tell Them You Love Me,...

Jodi Michelle Cutler

From the moment she received her son Jordan’s Deafness diagnosis, Jodi dedicated herself to finding the most suitable tools for improving quality of life for such disabilities, rising to a high level of professionalism as a consultant and advocate for inclusion rights through various international initiatives. Since RALLY CAPS, among her many professional accomplishments, Jodi...

Bing Wang

A New York transplant by way of his native China, Bing is a dynamic filmmaker known for capturing intimate human relationships and presenting enlightening cinematic moments to cultural outsiders. His films explore diverse aspects of communication and identity issues (disability, sexuality, race, etc.) and have screened at over 30 festivals and universities around the world....

Stewart Schulman

Stewart’s career as a director-writer-producer straddles the worlds of film and theater and encompasses techniques of both narrative and documentary storytelling. His undergraduate studies in architectural design and photography at the University of Pennsylvania, coupled with filmmaking skills acquired at NYU’s graduate school of Film and Television inform the dynamic aesthetic of his award-winning work....

Lee Cipolla

Lee Cipolla’s first two feature films HARDER THEY FALL and KNOW THY ENEMY were acquired by Lionsgate and distributed on Netflix. His third feature, THE SHIFT, stars Danny Glover and is available on Amazon Prime. He also has directed content for Disney, Canon, AT&T and Warner Bros. He was a participant in Ron Howard’s Project...

Mae van de Loo

Mae is a fifteen year old Deaf girl from The Netherlands. In 2022 she played the main role of Jamie in the film OKTHANKSBYE. This was her first role in a movie.

Elsbeth Fraanje

ELSBETH FRAANJE (1979) is a creative documentary director, researcher and programmer. CBC labeled her documentary Sexual Healing as one of the 9 films not to miss at Hot Docs Canada. In her author driven, often stilistic films she shows compelling stories of ‘ordinary’ people and how these reflect on daily society. Indirectly and mildy comical,...

Pavar Snipe

Pavar Snipe is a comedian, writer, actress, and disability advocate. She is a writer and VO actress for ABC’s When Nature Calls with Helen Mirren and she is the voice of Angela Baker on the DreamWorks animated series Dragons: The Nine Realms. Pavar has performed stand-up at NYC and LA’s most popular comedy venues. Her...

Nikki Love

SVP, Development & Production at ALLBLK (an AMC SVOD Network), Nikki Love is a skilled producer and line producer specializing in the physical production of filmmaking from development to post production. She has produced festival and award winning feature films, short films, web series and music videos. She creates tight budgets and has great crew...

Ariel Baska

Ariel Baska is a multi-award-winning, multiply Disabled queer horror and documentary filmmaker, who believes in advocacy and accessibility for historically underserved communities. Their work has played on Alaska Airlines, and at film festivals from Berlin to Mexico City to Mumbai. They have presented with Lincoln Center, SXSW (South by Southwest) and the Berlinale on various...

Cynthia López

NYWIFT CEO Cynthia López (Moderator) is an award-winning media strategist, and former Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, where she implemented strategies to support film and TV production throughout the five boroughs. López is the recipient of many coveted industry awards including: 11 News and Documentary Emmy Awards, a Special Emmy Award for Excellence in...

Troy Kotsur

Troy Kotsur has been acting and directing for over 20 years. Deaf since birth, he was raised in Mesa, AZ. In his career he has had critically acclaimed performances in major films, a lead role in the Broadway run of a Tony Award-winning play, and numerous memorable roles on Television. His supporting role in the...

Marc Fliedner, Esq

Marc serves as the Director of both the statewide PAIMI, Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness, and PATBI, Protection & Advocacy for people with Traumatic Brain Injury Programs at DRNY. He has been with DRNY since 2017, and previously acted as Director of the PAIR Program. Marc has been committed to and practicing...

Delbert Whetter

Delbert Whetter, Delbert, a deaf producer born to three generations of deaf family members, is the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business Affairs for Exodus Film Group. He served as the lead business affairs executive for numerous entertainment and digital content providers for nearly two decades. Delbert has negotiated talent and production agreements including...

Anita Hollander

Anita Hollander, SAG-AFTRA National Chair of Performers with Disabilities, has written & performed work throughout Europe, Asia, Russia and America, in film, TV, and live theatre. Her award-winning original solo musicals Still Standing & Spectacular Falls have played Off-Broadway, at the Kennedy Center, White House, nationally & internationally. Most recent TV appearances include Law &...

Steve Way

Steve is a 32 year old substitute teacher by day and stand up comedian by night. He was born with muscular dystrophy and is an advocate for disability awareness. Steve performs stand up in the NJ/NY area, motivational speeches around the country, and can be seen in the Hulu show Ramy.

Rachel Handler

Rachel Handler is an actor and filmmaker based in NYC. She won the AT&T Underrepresented Filmmaker Award for her short, “Committed” and the Sundance Co//ab Monthly Challenge for her script, “The A Doesn’t Stand for Accessible.” Since joining the disabled community she’s found a passion for writing, producing, and advocating for inclusion in every project...

Christine Bruno

CHRISTINE BRUNO (AEA / SAG-AFTRA) is an award-winning New York-based actor, teaching artist, and disability equity consultant for the entertainment industry and has worked across the U.S. and internationally. Selected credits include the Off-Broadway world premieres of Mariana Correño King’s Truckers and Bekah Brunstetter’s Public Servant; Jose Rivera’s world premiere adaptation of Genet’s The Maids;...

Lawrence Carter-Long

A friend and supporter of ReelAbilities since before we began, Lawrence Carter-Long’s lifetime of advocacy combines a unique blend of the arts, public policy, and popular culture. An internationally respected authority on the history and evolution of disability in media, Lawrence has provided feedback, guidance, curated, or consulted on projects for SAG-AFTRA, the National Endowment...

Faye Ginsburg

Faye Ginsburg is co-Director of the Center for Disability Studies and Director of the Center for Media, Culture & History at New York University where she is the Kriser Professor of Anthropology. She is author, with Rayna Rapp, of the just released book Disability Worlds, and co-editor of the forthcoming How to be Disabled In...

Xian Horn

Xian Horn is a joyful half-Asian woman with Cerebral Palsy, who serves as founder of the non-profit, Give Beauty Wings and consultancy Changeblazer. She is an advocate, speaker, blogger, and Exemplar for the AT&T NYU Connect Ability Challenge in the creation of Assistive Technology. Xian was named Women’s eNews’ 21 Leaders for the 21st Century...

Venues

Gold Coast IFF at Manhasset Cinemas

430 Plandome Rd, Manhasset
NY 11030, USA
Tel: 516-829-2570

www.goldcoastarts.org

Brooklyn Public Library

10 Grand Army Plz, Brooklyn
NY 11238, USA
Tel: 718.230.2100

https://www.bklynlibrary.org/

Chelsea Factory

547 W 26th St, New York
NY 10001, USA
Tel: 917.281.6379

https://www.chelseafactory.org/

The Times Center

242 W 41st St, New York
NY 10036, USA

https://www.thetimescenter.com/

Jacob Burns Film Center

364 Manville Rd, Pleasantville
NY 10570, USA

https://burnsfilmcenter.org/

Maysles Documentary Center

343 Lenox Ave, New York
NY 10027, USA
Tel: 646.853.1296

https://www.maysles.org

Manhattan College Kelly Commons

3900 Waldo Ave, Bronx
NY 10463, USA

DCTV (Firehouse Cinema)

87 Lafayette St, New York
NY 10013, USA
Tel: 212.966.4510

http://www.dctvny.org

Museum of the Moving Image

36-01 35th St, Astoria
NY 11106, USA
Tel: 718.777.6888

http://www.movingimage.us

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – Stanley H Kaplan Penthouse

165 W 65th St, New York
NY 10023, USA
Tel: 212.875.5375

http://www.lincolncenter.org/

JCC of Staten Island Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC

1466 Manor Rd, Staten Island
NY 10314, USA
Tel: (718) 475-5200

www.sijcc.org

Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

334 Amsterdam Ave, New York
NY 10023, USA

https://mmjccm.org