The ReelAbilities International Film Festival is the first of its kind to present award-winning films by and about people with disabilities.
"Founded in 2007 at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities has grown from a single New York-based disability film festival into a leading independent nonprofit and the premiere global exhibitor of disability-focused cinema. Through groundbreaking, award-winning films and innovative programming, we challenge stereotypes, celebrate authentic disability representation in movies, and expand opportunities for disabled creators worldwide. "
ReelAbilities Columbus is an affiliate festival and is on their 12th festival season.
They now have film screening events in the fall and spring of each year.
Screenings are followed by discussions and programming that bring together the community to explore, discuss, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.
All films are free and open to the public!
ReelAbilities Screening: My Brain: After the Rupture
Join Art Possible Ohio and Cinema Columbus Film Festival for the September screening of My Brain: After the Rupture at the ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus. The film follows Clemency Burton-Hill as she tries to return to life and broadcasting after a catastrophic hemorrhage. Doors open at 1:00 PM, the film will begin at 1:30 PM….
ReelAbilities Screening: OhioDance Festival
Join Art Possible Ohio and the OhioDance for the May program from ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus. This free screening of shorts about dance and movement will be followed by a discussion led by dancer and educator Sarah Ramey. Doors open at 2:00 PM, films begin at 2:15 PM. Dance Shorts: ¡Salsa!, The Art of Weightlessness,…
ReelAbilities Screening: No One Cares About Crazy People
Join Art Possible Ohio and the Wexner Center for the Arts for the March program from ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus. This free screening of the award winning feature documentary No One Cares About Crazy People will be followed by a panel discussion with Gail Freedman, Darrell E. Herrmann, Tyeesha Ferguson and moderated by Danielle Smith. …
ReelAbilities Screening: Color Book and Art Making with Bryan Moss
Join Art Possible Ohio and Urban Arts Space for the February screening of Color Book at the ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus. Stop by before the film for “Finding Color in a Black and White World,” an art making activity with artist Bryan Moss. The film, a black and white portrayal of a recently single father…
ReelAbilities Screening: The Art of Film Shorts
Join Art Possible Ohio and McConnell Arts Center for the January screening of the ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus with an evening of shorts about making film. Each film explores a different aspect of the filmmaking process and encompasses the different genres, narrative, documentary, and experimental. Each film tackles the idea of making film with a…
ReelAbilities Screening: YOU. SLEEP. STAY.
Join ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus and the Columbus Museum of Art for a screening of “YOU. SLEEP. STAY.” with a reflection led by Daron Larson. Space is limited so make sure you register to reserve your seat at Humanitix. Feature Film: YOU. SLEEP. STAY. Cost: Get your free ticket to this event at Humnaitix When:…
ReelAbilities Screening: Lucas, an endangered human species
ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus and CCAD present a screening of Lucas, an endangered human species by Éli Laliberté. After the film we will have a discussion with the Filmmaker. Space is limited so make sure you register for your free tickets to reserve your seat at Humanitix. Feature Film: Lucas, an endangered human species Cost:…
ReelAbilities Screening: Words Left Unspoken
Join ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus and GCAC for our 2025-26 season opening film, Words Left Unspoken! Enjoy a powerful film that follows a man with a stutter as he journeys to public speaking. The film will be followed by a discussion led by Speech-Language Pathologist, Arin Sheeler. Space is limited so make sure you register…
Magnetosphere and Open Mic at We Amplify Voices
Join ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus and We Amplify Voices for a fun, family-friendly afternoon on July 19, 2025! Enjoy a powerful coming-of-age film followed by an inspiring Open Mic session led by Cynthia Amoah – everyone’s welcome to share and celebrate diverse voices. Feature Film: Magnetosphere Film Description: Maggie experiences a world where sounds burst…
Rally Caps Screening at Berwick
Join ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus for an fun-filled outdoor film experience for the whole family with the Berwick Civic Association and Therapeutic Recreation on May 17th, 2025. Join us for an outdoor film event full of fun, food and Adaptive sports exploration. Film Description In this star-studded family coming-of-age drama, young Jordy, who is recovering…
Short Film Program at Ohio State Dance
Art Possible Ohio, In partnership with the Ohio Dance Festival invites you to come see short films “Dosh” and “Donald” “Dosh” is a compelling short film that follows a mother and her son during a pre-wedding ritual, where the son’s lifeis unexpectedly put at risk. Confronted with her own hearing loss, the mother must make…
Nikki Swift
ReelAbilities Columbus Director
Nikki Swift has been a practicing filmmaker and artist for most of her life. Recording day-to-day life since she was a teenager, she imagines herself a tinkerer of sorts exploring various image making devices to fit her creative whims. Her most recent works move in two directions. The first is a continued series of personal experimental video essays on her life as an American orphan. The second is a series of video installations that combine social commentaries with archival materials, found footage, and a connection to the historical avant-garde film and video movements. Her background includes a Bachelor of Art in both Film Studies and Art History from The Ohio State University and a Masters in Library and Information Science with a focus in digital collections preservation and access from Kent State University. Since 2003, she has been working as an artist, curator, and media consultant for businesses, non-profits, and residents of the Central Ohio area while producing her own work which have shown at festivals and competitions across the US and abroad. In 2014 she was awarded a Greater Columbus Arts Council Media Arts Fellowship. Over the past decade Nikki has provided many services to the public offering workshops for the Greater Columbus Arts Council, 4-H, and Adobe. She has a long history of curating moving image programs around Columbus, Ohio as part of organizations such as The Columbus Moving Image Art Review, The Columbus International Film + Video Festival, Comfest, and the Independents Day Festival. In 2020 Nicolettecinemagraphics was awarded the Ohio Governors' Award for Small Business Supporting the Arts by the Ohio Arts Council.
General Inquiry: info@artpossibleohio.org
Nikki Swift (Technical Director): nikki@artpossibleohio.org
The Ohio Arts Council
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Their vision is to provide leadership and voice for the arts to transform people and communities.
The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation mission is to assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents. They promise to help you help others through the most effective philanthropy possible.
ADAMH
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Their vision is to provide leadership and voice for the arts to transform people and communities.
Greater Columbus Arts Council
The Greater Columbus Arts Council mission is to champion and elevate the arts and cultural expression of Greater Columbus. Their vision is to see the power of art realized, people engaged, and the city energized.
Harry C. Moores Foundation
The Harry C. Moores Foundaiton provides grants largely for rehabilitation of the handicapped, as well as for hospitals, higher education, cultural programs, and social service agencies concerned with the aged, child welfare, and the developmentally disabled.










