By Mabel Pais

Screening ATIN MEHRA’S ‘Being Michelle,’ among others

The ReelAbilities SPOTLIGHT AWARD to ACADEMY AWARD WINNING actor TROY KOTSUR

The 15th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York (reelabilities.org/newyork), the largest festival in the United States dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities presents award-winning and premiere feature and short films at this year’s festival.

Showcasing diversity through film during a weeklong celebration, ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York will mark its 15th anniversary from April 27 to May 3 at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (mmjccm.org) and multiple venues across New York City, as well as virtually. All presentations bring groundbreaking accessibility, raising the bar on inclusive film screenings and events.

WHY REELABILITIES FEST?

Co-founded by Isaac Zablocki in 2007 (linkedin.com/in/isaac-zablocki-3a534a2), ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York puts disability in the spotlight by bringing the community together to explore and celebrate the diversity of the shared human experience through film and conversations that engage the public in promoting inclusion and diversity in film and beyond. This year’s acclaimed film selections highlight a variety of important topics such as disability inclusion, human rights, and other social issues that push the limits of creativity and imagination and offer insightful reflections on the complexities of life with disability.

“ReelAbilities believes in highlighting impactful and creative storytelling as a powerful tool to engage and create change for both those who know nothing about the disability community and those who live it every day,” says Isaac Zablocki, Director and Cofounder of ReelAbilities, and Senior Director of Film Programs at MMJCCM. “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.”

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, hearing assist 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.

The festival slate announced to date includes 10 features and 24 shorts in the film lineup, of which 70% are US and NY premieres, featuring works from 9 countries, and almost 50% are made by women filmmakers.

ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York will continue to host its annual Industry Accessibility Summit on May 1 and 2, expanding its purview this year to highlight film and performing arts in partnership with The NYC Mayor’s Office for Media and Entertainment. The festival will also bring additional special events and conversations relating to disabilities throughout the week of the festival including a Comedy Night at Gotham Comedy Club, Accessible beauty panel, and more.

VENUES

This year’s partner venues include the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (MMJCCM), Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LC), DCTV Firehouse Cinema (DCTV), Maysles Documentary Center (Maysles), Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI), Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Cinema Arts Centre (CAC), Manhattan College (MC), JCC Staten Island (JCC SI), and Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC).

FESTIVAL LINEUP 

FEATURES:

OPENING NIGHT

UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS

Dir. Juan Felipe Zuleta l USA l 2022 l Narrative l English l 1h 40m

Peter’s isolated daily routine is interrupted when his free-spirited neighbor shows up at his door, forcing him out of his shell and on an impromptu road trip.

Date(s)/Location(s): Thursday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. (MMJCCM) and Saturday, April 29 at 4 p.m. (MOMI)

CLOSING NIGHT

OKAY! (THE ASD BAND FILM) – East Coast Premiere

Dir. Mark Bone l Can l 2022 l Doc l English l 1h 26m

Four musicians on the autism spectrum come together through their shared love of music to write, record, and perform their first album of original songs.

Date(s)/Location(s): Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. (DCTV) and Closing Night Reception on Wednesday, May 3 at 7 p.m. (MMJCCM)

BEING MICHELLE

Dir. Atin Mehra l USA l 2022 l Doc l *ASL/Eng l 1h 20m

When an incarcerated deaf woman with autism meets a prison life coach who is blind, art becomes a path for healing.

Date(s)/Location(s): Saturday, April 29 at 1:30 p.m. and Monday, May 1 at 8:15 p.m. (MMJCMM); Tuesday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m. (MC)

There are 10 Features including Opening & Closing Nights: 

JASMINE IS A STAR

Dir. Jo Rochelle l USA l 2022 l Narr l English l 1h

Date(s)/Location(s): Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m. (MMJCCM) and Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. (BAM)

NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN – East Coast Premiere

Dir. Chris Burke l USA  l 2022 l Doc l Eng l 1h 22m

Date(s)/Location(s): Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. (MMJCCM)

PUSHING BOUNDARIES

Dir. Lesia Kordonets l Ukrainian/Switzerland l 2021 l  l Doc l 1h 42m

Date(s)/Location(s): Saturday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. (MMJCCM) and Tuesday, May 2 at 7 p.m. (CAC)

THE QUIET EPIDEMIC

Dirs. Lindsay Keys & Winslow Crane-Murdoch l USA l 2022 l Doc l English l

1h 42m

Date(s)/Location(s): Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. (Maysles); Tuesday, May 2 at 8 p.m. (MMJCCM); and Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. (CAC)

SHADOW

Dir. Bruce Gladwin l Australia l 2021 l Narr l Eng l 57m

Date(s)/Location(s): Monday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. (MMJCCM) and Wednesday, May 3 at 7 p.m. (JBFC)

STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT

Dir. Kristen Abate & Steven Tanenbaum l USA l 2022 l Narr l Eng l 1h 28m

Date(s)/Location(s): Saturday, April 29 at 8:30 p.m. (MMJCCM)

UPSIDE DOWN – International Premiere

Dir. Luca Tornatore l Italy l 2021 l Narr l Italian l 1h 33m

Date(s)/Location(s): Sunday, April 30 at 4:30 p.m. and Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. (JCC SI)

 SHORTS

There are six reel short films categorized OUT OF THE BOX, five films categorized MENTAL HEALTH, five categorized FAMILY FRIENDLY, three categorized THE ART OF LIVING, and five categorized WITH AN EDGE.

TICKETS

Some events are FREE. For updates, more information on the Festival and Tickets for individual films, and the entire festival, visit reelabilities.org/newyork/films

REELABILITIES MISSION

ReelAbilities encourages inclusive language that acknowledges people’s personal preferences. ReelAbilities supports:

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

REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL: NEW YORK

For more information, visit reelabilities.org.

THE MARLENE MEYERSON JCC MANHATTAN

Learn more at mmjccm.org.

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)