ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York

Home
United States
New York, NY
ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York

Largest festival in the world celebrating disability through film + arts

ReelAbilities Film Festival is the largest US showcase of International cinema dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. ReelAbilities' mission is to promote disability inclusion and accessibility, both on and off screen. ReelAbilities is renowned for its wide-ranging international film selection, riveting convers

ations, professional workshops and arts events, as well as a leader in setting the highest standards of accessibility and inclusion in the film industry.

06/16/2026

ReelAbilities International is grateful for the support of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund & Pocantico Center, whose mission is to advance social change toward a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.

This support will help ReelAbilities continue expanding access, visibility, and opportunity for disabled artists, audiences, educators, and industry leaders through film and conversation 👏

[Image Description: A full audience at a ReelAbilities screening. White text on top reads "ReelAbilities is a Rockefeller Brothers Fund grantee!" with the ReelAbilities and Rockefeller Brothers Fund logos.]

06/15/2026

We're partnering with Positive Exposure on a screening of short documentary I HAVE TOURETTES BUT TOURETTES DOESN'T HAVE ME 🎥

Join us this Wednesday, June 17 at 6pm at Positive Exposure Gallery. The screening will be followed by a conversation with filmmakers Sheila Nevins & Ellen Goosenberg Kent.

[Image Description: Flyer with a silhouette of a hand in green with words "I have Tourettes but Tourettes doesn't have me" written on the hand. Text above and below reads "You're invited to a screening of short documentary at Positive Exposure Gallery. 4th Floor, 83 Maiden Ln, New York, NY 10038. Wednesday, June 17. 6pm - Refreshments & Light Bites. 6:45pm - Film promptly begins. Followed by a conversation with filmmakers Sheila Nevins & Ellen Goosenberg Kent." In the margins are logos for Positive Exposure, ReelAbilities, and Tourette Association of America.]

06/12/2026

Another Friday, another Red Carpet interview!

Pavar spoke with filmmaker Mekhai Lee about his film THEM THATS NOT.

Check out the whole interview and others on our YouTube channel ▶️ youtube.com/

Video by Limitless Laughs Productions

[Video Description: Pavar interviews Mekhai on the ReelAbilities red carpet.]

06/08/2026

In honor of , we're highlighting an insightful panel with Alex Dvorak, the writer, director and star of the short film BAD SURVIVOR.

Watch the full conversation and other ReelTalks at reelabilities.org/reeltalks!

[Video Description: Alex Dvorak speaking on a panel at ReelAbilities with Lawrence Carter-Long, Mekhai Lee, Jessica Perlman, and Rachel Handler.]

06/05/2026

Director of Engagement Lawrence Carter-Long reflects on the 18th annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York in Able Newspaper article "On Representation, Reckoning, and Repair"

Read Online 📰 https://zurl.co/U4Ijb

[Image Description: Black and orange graphic with a headshot of Lawrence Carter-Long and his quote in Able News: "Repair means showcasing stories we’ve been missing. It also asks why they were missing in the first place. Then taking concrete measures to broaden the frame. Celebrating stories that reflect the world more honestly but also imagine differently."]

06/03/2026

Plan ahead for National Disability Employment Awareness Month ( )!

Bring a ReelAbilities film and conversation to your workplace this October, for an opportunity to reflect, share and learn.

Learn more & get in touch at reelabilities.org/workplace 💼

[Image Description: Black and orange graphic with a photo of 3 presenters in a conference room. Text reads "Bring ReelAbilities to your workplace for NDEAM. Reelabilities.org/workplace"]

06/01/2026

ANNOUNCING... 📣 The Media Access Awards have been reimagined as the Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards, aka The DARCYS!

Presented by Easterseals Southern California with Film Independent co-producing, the DARCYS celebrate authentic disability representation across film, television, digital, and emerging media. Submissions for the first-ever competitive awards categories open on June 16 and the awards ceremony will take place on October 10 in Los Angeles.

ReelAbilities is proud to support this work, and our Director of Engagement, Lawrence Carter-Long, serves on the Disability Advisory Committee alongside an esteemed collective of disabled artists, advocates, access leaders, and industry colleagues helping shape what comes next.

Follow DARCY Awards for updates and learn more at socal.easterseals.com/darcyawards

[Image Description: Text reads: “Media Access Awards is now Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards” on a background with brown, orange, maroon, and blue colors fanning out like beams from a spotlight.]

05/29/2026

Today's red carpet interview is with Spotlight Award recipient, Ali Stroker!

We were thrilled to honor Ali at this year's festival. Her work on stage and screen has paved the way for so many disabled creatives!

Watch the full interview and others on our YouTube channel ▶️ youtube.com/

Video by Limitless Laughs Productions

[Video Description: Pavar Snipe interviews Ali Stroker in front of a ReelAbilities step and repeat.]

05/27/2026

ReelAbilities is supporting two films at the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival!

KIDS LIKE ME by Cynthia Lowen and Jon Cohrs & TAKE ME HOME by Liz Sargent will be featured at Tribeca Film Festival, running June 3-14th in NYC and online.

MORE INFO 🎥 https://zurl.co/7Ztsi

[Image Description: Black and orange graphic with film stills from Kids Like Me and Take Me Home, and the Tribeca Film Festival and ReelAbilities logos.]

05/25/2026

May is ! One of the films from our recent festival NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE deep dives into the current climate and advocacy movement around mental health in the U.S.

Tune into the post-screening conversation with the film's director Gail Freedman, editor Dina Potocki, and subjects Carmelo and Kendra Vurgos, moderated by Maggie G. Mortali of NAMI-NYC. Plus, find other engaging post-screening discussions with filmmakers, subjects, and advocates from RFFNY18!

Stream ReelTalks ▶️ https://zurl.co/JK45g

NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE is coming to multiple streaming platforms at the end of May! Apple TV pre-orders are officially open.

[Video Description: Maggie G. Mortali and Gail Freedman in conversation with a ReelAbilities screen behind them.]

Address

New York, NY
10023

Telephone

+16465055708

Website

http://reelabilities.org/newyork/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York:

Shortcuts

Featured

Heart River Center for Intuitive Healing

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in New York?