Presented as a hybrid in-person and online event from New York City, this year’s summit brings together leaders in film, television, digital media and the performing arts with Disabled creators, advocates and innovators for two days of panels, workshops, networking and pitch competitions. The event is designed to move beyond conversation toward meaningful, measurable change by expanding who gets hired, funded, mentored, commissioned, distributed, included and promoted in the entertainment industry.

The 2026 summit will feature  keynotes by Josh Sapan, former CEO of AMC Networks, and award winning actor, writer and director Michael Patrick Thornton, punctuated by sessions on authentic casting, disability-led storytelling, inclusive production, alternative distribution, new media and representation in the performing arts and film industries. Programming will also include a disability inclusion workshop, networking opportunities and pitch events connecting Disabled creators with industry decision-makers.

The summit’s pitch initiatives include the ReelAbilities Rough Cuts Pitch, which features the Loreen Arbus Completion Award, a $10,000 cash prize for a project in the rough-cut stage. Other awards include filmmaking equipment, production support, mentorship from AMC Networks, ITVS, and other career advancing opportunities.. The Crip Script Pitch Program gives Disabled writers and filmmakers an opportunity to introduce promising feature and television projects to industry professionals.

ReelAbilities’ pitch programs are intended to help projects advance through mentorship, industry access and visibility beyond the festival setting.

Now celebrating its fifth year, the ReelAbilities Industry Summit also has receipts. Last year, 89% of summit speakers identified as Disabled, and 25% of those speakers identified as people of color.

“Too often, disability is thought of in narrow, conditional terms,” said Isaac Zablocki, co-founder and director of ReelAbilities Film Festival. “The ReelAbilities Industry Summit changes that. Summit is a unique opportunity for Disabled creators and industry leaders to come together with a singular focus: to improve opportunities for who gets hired, funded, seen and heard in entertainment and to create conditions for Disabled talent to thrive as more creatives learn, grow and get established in the industry.”

The summit is presented in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and is intended for film and television professionals, performing arts leaders, exhibitors, distributors, venue managers, producers, filmmakers, performers, arts educators and disability and arts organizations.

“I am proud to partner with the ReelAbilities Film Festival to present the Industry Summit, which will inspire dialogue and create action towards ensuring our city's entertainment industries are inclusive and accessible to all New Yorkers, including our Disabled creatives, " said NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Rafael Espinal. “As our City enters a new era under a new Mayor, this office will take a workers-first approach to everything, making New York the easiest essential place to create, for everyone, and making sure that all of the creatives who work here, can live here." 

ReelAbilities events feature unparalleled access including open captions on all films, audio description, American Sign Language interpretation, real time captioning for live events, Braille and large-print materials, sensory-friendly spaces and accessible venues.

Registration for the 2026 ReelAbilities Industry Summit is open at ReelAbilities.org/summit. For media inquiries, interview requests, sponsorship opportunities or press credentials, contact [email protected]

About ReelAbilities
Founded in 2007, ReelAbilities has grown from an annual New York film festival into an independent nonprofit and international platform advancing accessibility and increasing opportunity through film, affiliate festivals, streaming, education, workplace engagement and industry initiatives. By centering the voices, artistry and lived experiences of Disabled people on screen and behind the scenes, ReelAbilities has become a leading force for on-screen, creative, and leadership representation throughout the entertainment industry. In 2025, the organization was named to the inaugural Forbes Accessibility 100.