ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is proud to announce its full lineup of 2024 films and schedule.Following the announcement of its star-studded opening night slate, the festival unveiled 26 films selected for the 2024 ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York.
Raising the bar on accessibility and inclusion, the Festival will take place in multiple venues throughout NYC, Long Island and Westchester, with a selection of titles available online from April 3–10, 2024. This year marks the 16th edition of the Festival, bringing together audiences to explore and celebrate the artistic expression and engaging stories of groundbreaking disabled talent.
The Festival will open with the NYC premiere of Tony Goldwyn’s EZRA, starring Goldwyn himself, alongside Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg, at a red carpet celebration at the NY Times Center. The film, introducing William Fitzgerald in the title character, will be followed by Q&A with the cast and crew.
The opening night celebration will be followed by a weeklong program featuring international and local premieres of narrative and documentary features and shorts, all presented with groundbreaking accessibility at the main festival hub, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, as well as Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Museum of the Moving Image, Jacob Burns Film Center, DCTV Firehouse Cinema, Maysles Documentary Center, among others. Audiences can also experience a curated selection exclusively online during the festival week.
Other highlights include the world premiere of LOUD LOVE which follows the prejudices of a deaf gay couple seeking to adopt two hearing children, The NY Premiere of the Family Friendly RALLY CAPS starring Judd Hirsch and Amy Smart, and Closing Night’s NY Premiere of GOOD BAD THINGS about a young entrepreneur with muscular dystrophy entering the world of online dating. All films will include conversations with the filmmakers in attendance.
ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest showcase in the United States dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. Through riveting films and engaging conversations, accompanied by an Industry Summit and other cultural events, ReelAbilities brings the wider community together to celebrate and explore our shared human experience. All presentations bring groundbreaking accessibility, raising the bar on inclusive film screenings and events.
“These films are not just inclusive, they are first and foremost great films, and happen to highlight a variety of important topics such as disability inclusion, human rights, and other social issues.” says Isaac Zablocki, ReelAbilities’ co-founder and director. “This is our most diverse lineup to date and we are proud to feature authentic and first-person stories that bring these underserved images to the surface in the most responsible and engaging manner.”
The festival slate announced to date includes 12 features and 14 shorts in the film lineup. Close to 60%of the films are World, US and NY premieres, and 50% are made by women filmmakers. At 42%, this year includes a record number of US-produced feature films, alongside films from the UK, Bolivia, Australia, the Netherlands, Kurdistan and more.
ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York will continue to host its annual Industry Summit on April 8 and 9, highlighting topics of disability inclusion and equity in the film and performing arts industries, in partnership with The NYC Mayor’s Office for Media and Entertainment. An expanded pitch program and a slate of industry awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
The festival will also showcase additional events and conversations relating to disabilities throughout the week of the festival including its popular Comedy Night, and The Future of Accessible Beauty panel.
As partnerships are a core value through which ReelAbilities pursues its mission, the festival is proud to have the continued support of over 120 diverse organizations, including The Loreen Arbus Foundation, F.Y.Eye, J.E.& Z.B. Butler Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, NYC Dept of Cultural Affairs, Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery, AMC Networks, and more. For a full list of sponsors and partners, visit: reelabilities.org/newyork/partners.
ReelAbilities strives to include all people. All films are presented with open captions and all venues are accessible to mobility devices. At the MMJCCM, the main festival venue, ASL interpretation, CART, audio description, assistive listening devices and information in braille are available at all times. For specific accommodations at other festival venues, individuals should check the venue website, or contact the screening venue directly.
FESTIVAL LINE UP
Feature Films:
Opening Night: Ezra
New York City Premiere
Dir. Tony Goldwyn
Narrative | English | US | 2023 | 100 min
Logline:
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.
Wed, Apr 3, 6 pm Reception | 7 pm Screening (NY Times Center)
Daruma
Dir. Alexander Yellen
Narrative | English | US | 2023 | 104 min
Logline: When Patrick discovers he’s the father of a 4-year-old girl, he takes an unexpected journey with his veteran neighbor.
Clip: https://youtu.be/BISGJlyYpzY
MMJCCM: Sat, Apr 6, 8:30 pm
SIJCC: Tue, Apr 9, 7 pm
Is There Anybody Out There?
Dir. Ella Glendining
Documentary | English | UK | 2023 | 87 min
Logline: A filmmaker explores self-love and acceptance while navigating ableist constructs.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/yZGIjfQgg-c
MMJCCM: Thu, Apr 4, 8:15 pm
MAYSLES: Fri, Apr 5, 7 pm
DCTV: Sun, Apr 7, 2 pm
La Lucha
Dir. Violeta Ayala
Documentary | Spanish | Australia/US/Bolivia | 2023 | 93 min
New York Premiere
Logline: Activists lead a courageous 250-mile journey over the Andes to the Bolivian capital, facing adversity and rewriting national history as they advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/aSmPUt_jRtE
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Fri, Apr 5, 6:00 pm
MOMI: Sat, Apr 6, 1:30 pm
Left Alone Rhapsody – The Musical Memoir of Pianist John Bayless
Dir. Stewart M. Schulman
Documentary | English | US | 2023 | 100 min
Logline: After losing mobility in his right hand, piano prodigy John Bayless is determined to take on the world’s most prestigious stages playing with just his left hand.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/EiaJ44-Klys
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Mon, Apr 8, 6 pm
BPL: Thu, Apr 4, 7 pm
Loud Love
Dir. Bing Wang
Documentary | English + ASL | US | 2024 | 90 min
World Premiere
Logline:
Pushing back against society and their own families’ prejudice, deaf, gay couple Alan and Brian pursue parenthood, raising two hearing children.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/o6BqtR0Bnu4
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Sun, Apr 7, 5:30 pm
Name Me Lawand*
Dir. Edward Lovelace
Documentary | British Sign Language, English, Kurdish | UK | 2022 | 82 min
Logline: A rapturous portrait of a deaf Kurdish boy’s emotional journey toward discovering how to express himself while learning the art of sign language.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/bZq0I84g4Uk
MMJCCM: Tue, Apr 9, 6 pm
JBFC: Mon, Apr 8, 7 pm
Okthanksbye
Dir. Nicole van Kilsdonk
Narrative | Dutch, Dutch Sign Language, French | Netherlands | 2023 | 92 min
Logline: An adventurous coming-of-age drama following two young deaf girls on a transformative road trip, providing an opportunity for self-discovery and deepening their understanding of each other.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/baYa-4EWKQI
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Thu, Apr 4, 6 pm
MC: Wed, Apr 3, 5:30 pm
Rally Caps + Deaf Giants
MMJCCM: Sun, Apr 7, 2:45 pm
Rally Caps*
Dir. Lee Cipolla
Narrative | English | US | 2023 | 95 min
New York Premiere
Logline: After an injury during a little league baseball tryout, young Jordy goes to summer camp and is inspired to return to the pitching mound by catcher Lucas, who has just undergone cochlear implant surgery.
Clip: https://youtu.be/VZox-vk7nIM
Deaf Giants
Dir. Peter Hoffman Kimball
Documentary | English | US | 2023 | 10 min
New York Premiere
Logline: 10-year-old Bracken and his younger deaf brother investigate the representation of deaf baseball players between the early 1900s and the present.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/_SZqlZsyP1Q
Streaming April 3–10 as part of ReelAbilities “Out of the Box”
Sexual Healing
Dir. Elsbeth Fraanje
Documentary | Dutch | Netherlands | 2022 | 55 min
New York Premiere
Logline: A poignant, disarming, and often humorous story of a 53-year-old disabled woman going on a courageous exploration of her own intimacy and sexuality for the very first time.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/2CQ2tw1oirI
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Mon, Apr 8, 8:30 pm, $15
Tell Them You Love Me
Dir. Nick August-Perna
Documentary | English | US | 2023 | 103 min
New York City Premiere
Logline: A riveting and nuanced true-crime story about communication, race, and sex that challenges our perceptions of disability and the nature of consent.
Clip: https://youtu.be/Y5TpsEOtcw0
MMJCCM: Sat, Apr 6, 6:15 pm
MAYSLES: Thu, Apr 4, 7 pm
CHELSEA: Fri, Apr 5, 7 pm
Closing Night: Good Bad Things
Dir. Shane D. Stanger
Narrative | English | US | 2023 | 96 min
New York Premiere
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.
Logline: Danny, a young man with muscular dystrophy decides to step out of his comfort zone and into the world of online dating, sparking a profound journey of self-discovery.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/WZ90D3lvLZM
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Wed, Apr 10, 6 pm Pre-Reception | 7 pm screening
REELSHORTS: SHORT FILM PROGRAMS
ReelShorts: Out of the Box
Streaming April 3–10 (excluding Carpenter, including Deaf Giants)
MMJCCM: Sat, Apr 6, 2 pm
As You Are
Dir. Daisy Friedman
Narrative | English | US | 2023 | 14 min
Logline: When an interabled queer couple spends the night together for the first time, they must confront their complex relationships with desire, sexuality, and bodily autonomy.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/uGsncNISwwg
Carpenter
Dir. Xelîl Sehragerd
Documentary | Kurdish | Kurdistan | 2023 | 14 min
Kurdish carpenter Hussein Mahmood navigates through snow and landmines to craft artificial legs from carefully selected wood.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Rk-UcF2Y7X4
Donald
Dir. Dylan S. Tuccillo
Documentary | English | US | 2023 | 9 min
World Premiere
Logline: A dancer moves with his wheelchair in surprising ways, pushing the art form’s boundaries, as he prepares for a live performance.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/LjkTLqktJxw
My Eyes Are Up Here
Dir. Nathan Morris
Narrative | English | UK | 2022 | 13 min
Logline: A romantic comedy following a disabled woman on a mission to get the morning-after pill. The only thing in her way is… everything.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/UEPOO0ZJsJs
Sea Legs
Dir. Sam Dijkstra
Narrative | Dutch | Netherlands | 2022 | 8 min
US Premiere
Logline: What starts for Marius as a careless summer’s day evolves into a confrontation between his insecurities and self-acceptance.
To My Father
Dir. Sean Schiavolin
Documentary | ASL, English | US | 2023 | 23 min
Logline: To My Father depicts Deaf actor Troy Kotsur’s journey to winning an Oscar and his father’s influence on him, despite a tragic accident.
Trailer https://youtu.be/z5NkAthSjFo
We Care
Dir. Clare-Louise English
Narrative | English | UK | 2022 | 16 min
New York Premiere
Logline: Annie is surprised to find that her new caretaker happens to be a man, a very manly man. This beautiful and funny piece takes a dark turn when Annie is let down by the system that is meant to take care of her.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/G9dJDC4InG8
ReelShorts: Mental Health
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Sat, Apr 6, 4:30 pm
Dear Ani
Dir. Micah Levin
Documentary | English | US | 2022 | 39 min
Logline: This film focuses on Keith Wasserman’s 20-year epic mental health odyssey to befriend music icon and Grammy award-winner Ani DiFranco.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/ubGLEbIF6wk
Dosh
Dir. Radha Mehta
Narrative | English, Hindi | US | 2023 | 16 min
East Coast Premiere
Logline: A mother with hearing loss must decide how to seek help for her husband to keep her family safe.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/bpLpkruwlDc
ReelShorts: (Neuro)Divergent
Streaming April 3–10
MMJCCM: Sun, Apr 7, 1 pm, $15
BEAR
Dir. Kate Hammer
Narrative | English | UK | 2023 | 11 min
International Premiere
Logline: Neurodivergent Jude desperately needs a job, but a giant, sentient teddy bear can’t stop getting in her way. This is their story.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/5ndypP87QVw
Dungeons, Goblins and Broccoli
Dir. Dan Sanguineti
Narrative | English | Australia | 2022 | 8 min
North American Premiere
Logline: A group of avid Dungeons and Dragons players embarks on their next quest, but their game takes a turn when a newcomer arrives.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/RJSYzUG20h4
How To Build A Life
Dir. Matthew Reese
Documentary | English | UK | 2023 | 10 min
North American Premiere
Logline: A young man with Asperger’s talks candidly about the bullying that nearly ended his life and about finding hope through his new focus on Legos and his dog.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/VrGTGd5-n0Q
Working Differently
Dir. Hannah Currie
Documentary | English | UK | 2023 | 24 min
World Premiere
Logline: The importance of accessibility and inclusion within the film and television world, and why this should become the industry standard.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/LDJGZvouEhk
VENUE KEY:
MMJCCM: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan | BPL: Brooklyn Public Library | CHELSEA: Chelsea Factory | DCTV: Firehouse Cinema | JBFC: Jacob Burns Film Center | JCCSI: JCC of Staten Island | LCPA: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts | MAYSLES: Maysles Documentary Center | MC: Manhattan College | MOMI: Museum of Moving Image | TC: Times Center
The entire film festival schedule and additional details on each film, including synopsis, run time, disabilities represented and more, can also be found here. Opening Night tickets are on sale now, starting at $150, and can be purchased here. Tickets for the entire festival will be on sale March 7, with many free events, and others starting at $15. More information on festival programming and special events will be announced at a later date.
ReelAbilities encourages inclusive language that acknowledges people’s personal preferences. We support:
- Person-first language (a person with a disability, not a disabled person).
- Asking people for their preferences and if they require assistance.
- Creating an inclusive environment welcoming to people with and without disabilities
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ABOUT REELABILITIES
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,
In addition to the annual New York flagship festival, 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.
ReelAbilities also 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
ReelAbilities Film Festival
