TRACK 1: PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT

ReelAbilities is thrilled to announce the 2027 Crip Script Pitch Program: Development Track, taking place during the Festival’s Industry Summit: Disability Inclusion in Film + Performing Arts on April 12–13, 2027, in New York City.

This year’s development pitch track will showcase fiction, nonfiction, and TV/episodic projects, creating an extraordinary opportunity for filmmakers with disabilities to present their ideas before a panel of industry leaders and a live audience of film and performing arts professionals.

Participants will compete for exciting prizes, including cash awards, mentorship from seasoned professionals, access to filming and editing equipment, accessibility resources, and other career-advancing opportunities.

TRACK 2: PROJECTS IN ROUGH-CUT / COMPLETION STAGE

ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is excited to once again present the Rough-Cut Pitch Program and the Loreen Arbus Completion Award, taking place during the ReelAbilities Industry Summit on April 27–28, 2026, in New York City.

This unique program invites fiction and nonfiction film projects in the rough-cut stage with at least one key creative (writer or director) with a disability. From the pool of submissions, 3–4 projects will be selected to pitch their work before a panel of leading industry professionals.

Participants will compete for a $10,000 cash prize presented by Loreen Arbus Productions, mentorship from seasoned professionals, access to filming and editing equipment, accessibility resources, and other career-advancing opportunities.

Rough-Cut Pitch: The Dismantled by Jason DaSilva and Alice Elliott (Loreen Arbus Completion Award, a $10,000 prize, one year of Women Make Movies webinars, access to Executive Director Debra Zimmerman’s fundraising webinar, a private screening from Gigantic Studios, and a meeting with an NBCUniversal executive to help expand industry relationships.)

Crip Script Nonfiction: Blood Bias by Juliette Romeo (DOC NYC PRO PASS) and Liminal Space by Alicia Eastes (ITVS mentorship).

Crip Script Fiction: ARISE by Dan Iacovella (AMC Global Media Mentorship and Blackmagic filmmaking gear).

Additional Rough-Cut honors: Don’t Look Away by Joseph Lingad (ReelAbilities Accessibility Award and distribution support) and I Dream of Sharks by Matt Fletcher (audio description services from Woman of Her Word.)