Volunteer

Volunteering is a terrific way to get involved in this exciting festival from its first stages. The commitment and generosity of our volunteers is the foundation that makes our festival a great success.

Volunteering at our festival is hard work, but also lots of fun – you can meet filmmakers from around the world, interact with our engaged audience, and watch great movies!

ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is now planning for its 17th annual festival in April 3-9, 2025.

This year, as with last year, we seek to give volunteers more opportunities to engage with the festival. Additionally, volunteers who complete a certain number of shifts will receive benefits such as film passes, festival merchandise, and thank-yous from our community partners. Volunteers will also receive a certificate of completion, thanking them for their service.

Here are some of the exciting roles our volunteers will have:

  1. Shift Lead: supervising volunteers and helping to support and manage various roles
  2. Accessibility Associate (Accessibility Table): managing accessible seating, distributing assistive technology, supporting accessibility needs
  3. Accessibility Associate (Access-A-Ride): supporting accessibility needs relating to Access-A-Ride (ie, calling attendees to let them know their ride is out front and escorting them to the door)
  4. General Production Assistance: various roles, heavy lifting, fast paced
  5. AV Production Assistance: operating cameras for panels and other tech-related assistance
  6. Receptions: helping with set up and serving drinks at receptions
  7. Greeter: welcoming audiences at the entrance of the building, answering questions
  8. Ticket Taker: taking tickets outside the theater via our online platform
  9. Seat Usher: helping get people settled inside the theater

If you have a passion for film and/or disability inclusion, a can-do attitude, and the desire to be a part of an impactful event, we invite you to join us as a volunteer for ReelAbilities. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, gain valuable experience, and immerse yourself in the world of cinema.

To express your interest and learn more about the volunteer program, please click on the button below and fill out an application.

Thank you!

Volunteer