ReelAbilities International Inc
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Mission Statement
Founded as a NYC film festival in 2007, ReelAbilities blazed a trail as the first event of its kind, exclusively showcasing films by and about people with disabilities. It has evolved into the nation’s premier organization dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities through film, aiming to create a more just, inclusive, and accessible society, At the annual New York flagship festival, ReelAbilities is renowned for its wide-ranging international film selection, riveting conversations, professional workshops and arts events, as well as a leader in setting the highest standards of accessibility and inclusion in the film industry. The festival is a rare opportunity to put the spotlight on disabled individuals as protagonists, role models, artists and producers, all on the big screen. In 2012, ReelAbilities has expanded its impact by introducing its Affiliate Festivals Program, making it possible for organizations around the country and the world to present ReelAbilities in their communities, celebrating diversity and further spreading ReelAbilities’ mission. In addition to its flagship and affiliate festivals, ReelAbilities offers a streaming platform – www.reelabilitiesstream.org, Reel Education, a year-round educational program, and ReelAbilities at the Workplace, presenting ReelAbilities content at corporations and organizations as a diversity and inclusion training tool. Following 16 years of operating under the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, in 2023 ReelAbilities was incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) organization.
About This Cause
ReelAbilities pursues its mission of disability inclusion, equity and accessibility by following five core principles: HIGH CINEMATIC VALUE ReelAbilities is proud to present an international selection of excelling cinematic and artistic work, across genres and styles. PROGRESSIVE APPROACH TO DISABILITY Responsible portrayal and representation of the lived experiences of people with disabilities, told by disabled creators and allies in an authentic manner. In pursuit of our mission, we endeavor to showcase diverse perspectives and the intricacies of intersectionality, embracing the myriad of racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and religious communities within the disability experience. BEYOND-TRANSACTIONAL ACCESSIBILITY Accessibility is at the very core of our identity. We go beyond the minimum legal requirement and constantly strive to improve and enhance the accessibility of all of our programs. Beyond presenting our programs with captions, audio description, ASL interpretation, live captioning and braille materials in accessible venues, with sensory friendly spaces and visual stories, our program is structured in a way that it is wide spread and accessible financially, geographically and virtually to communities and individuals throughout North America, and beyond. MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT AND CONVERSATIONS ReelAbilities creates a space for meaningful conversation and engagement, where the themes and topics brought to light by the films can be explored deeper and further. Through post film conversations with filmmakers, protagonists and experts, as well as a variety of complementing cultural and performing arts programs, ReelAbilities provides a space for the wider community to celebrate, discuss and engage around these topics. COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT Through partnerships, we are able to reach far beyond our immediate constituency and bring the ReelAbilities message and change far and wide. Additionally, we see our programs as an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the work of our partners and our shared mission. Oftentimes, our partnering organizations can provide an outlet for further year-round engagement and call-to-action.