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NYC VIBE at the 2018 ReelAbilities Film Festival

April 2018 – The ReelAbilities Film Festival began in New York City in 2007. This festival was the first of its kind to present films by, for and about people with disabilities.

This year’s festival played in over 30 locations in New York City. 20 cities across North America now host their own ReelAbilities Film Festival. On opening night, NYC VIBE met with the actors, directors, and producers of the festival. We also talked with an Academy Award winner who made film history as the last actor with a disability to receive an Oscar.

This year’s line up featured several notable films, including “Keep The Change” which won a 2017 Tribeca Film Festival Award for best U.S. narrative feature, and best new narrative director. All the ReelAbilities films shared a common goal which was to advocate awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities.

ReelAbilities and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment presented a Spotlight Award to actress Marlee Matlin for her significant contributions to the city’s creative community. To many disabled actors and actresses – Marlee is a role model.

2018 marked ReelAbilities 10th anniversary – and the festival looks forward to expanding in 2019. The key word at the NYC ReelAbilities Film Festival wasn’t “Disability”, it was “Ability”!