Preview by Brad Balfour
ReelAbillities Film Festival: New York
April 3 – 10, 2024
Venues throughout New York and Online
Since 2007, the ReelAbillities Film Festival has presented films by and about people with disabilities. Continuing that proud tradition, the 16th edition of the festival runs from April 3 to the 10th at various venues in NYC and online. The mission statement of the ReelAbillities Film Festival is “celebrating disability, promoting inclusion, and advancing accessibility through film.”
The film “Ezra,” which opens the fest, follows Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (Robert De Niro), struggles to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (introducing William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives.
“Daruma” is a film about a day-drinking, unemployed paraplegic Patrick who finds out that he is the father of a four-year-old girl he never knew existed. He enlists the help of his double amputee veteran neighbor Robert to drive him and his newfound daughter across the country to live with her maternal grandparents.
In the closing night film, “Good Bad Things,” Danny is a young man with muscular dystrophy who steps out of his comfort zone and into the world of online dating after being disillusioned by failed relationships. An unexpected match is made with Madi, an enigmatic photographer, who challenges him to be vulnerable and sparks a profound journey of self-acceptance, discovering the extraordinary beauty of his unique body.
All film screenings will be followed by a conversation with guest filmmakers, protagonists and other guests. In addition to the opening night VIP guests, some notable guests include Amy Smart (“Varsity Blues,” “Starship Troopers”), Brett Dier (“Jane the Virgin”), Abigail Hawk (“Blue Bloods”), and Tobias Forrest (“How To Get Away with Murder” “Wisdom of the Crowd”).
This year will also include an expanded edition of its successful Crip Script Pitch Competition, which presents both fiction and non-fiction film and TV projects in development, and a section for projects in completion / rough-cut stage. There’s a cash prize supported by the Loreen Arbus Foundation on hand as well.
To learn more, go to: https://reelabilities.org/newyork/