ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus

ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus

ReelAbilities is a groundbreaking film festival that promotes awareness and appreciation of lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities, all through the easily accessible art form of film.

Click Here to Visit Us @ ReelAbilities International

Upcoming Films

november

20nov1:00 pm3:00 pmReelAbilities Shorts Festival featuring...

Event Details

AIMEE VICTORIA

DIRECTED BY CHRYSTEE PHARRIS

11 Min | American Sign Language (ASL) | USA | | Narrative

Short

City Premiere

On the day of their anniversary, a couple, separated by lockdown, finds their relationship tested. A story about the power of love in the toughest of times. In partnership with AMC Network.

DWARFO-PSYCHOSIS

DIRECTED BY MARIA DIDOMENICO

5 Min | English | USA | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

As fraternal twins Peter and Pat celebrate their 40th birthday, a huge twist is revealed. In partnership with AMC Network.

HOLD ON TO ME

DIRECTED BY LUCA ARCIDIACONO

20 Min | Italian | Italy | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere

Filippo did not expect to have to spend the day with Alice, a charming young girl with Down syndrome he meets on a train. On their journey, an unexpected bond forms between the two. In partnership with AMC Network.

BORDERLINE COFFEE

DIRECTED BY JEFF AYARS

10 Min | English | USA | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

A young woman overtaken by anxiety battles through her inner thoughts when she sets out to accomplish what would seem to be a simple task: a cup of coffee. In partnership with AMC Network.

THE MULTI

DIRECTED BY STORM SMITH, NATASHA OFILI

18 Min | English, American Sign Language (ASL) | USA | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

An isolated deaf woman fights to maintain control when past demons threaten to destroy the world of order she has built. In partnership with AMC Network. Content Warning: Implied abuse, psychological trauma

SIGNS AND GESTURES

DIRECTED BY ITANDEHUI JANSEN

12 Min | English, American Sign Language (ASL) | UK | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

Clara, a blind florist, has been chatting with Simon through a dating app. They arrange to meet in person. However, during their first date, an unexpected misunderstanding arises. In partnership with AMC Network.

Time

(Sunday) 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location

Wexner Center for the Arts

1871 N High St

Learn More

Calendar GoogleCal

january

22jan1:00 pm2:30 pmIMPERFECT

february

19feb1:00 pm3:00 pmAnimated Shorts Festival in Two Parts

Event Details

Children’s Festival Line-Up

WAWEL DRAGON

DIRECTED BY CAMERON CARR

6 Min | English | UK | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

An animated retelling of the classic Polish folktale by Cameron Carr (Strange), Wawel Dragon features a dragon, knights, and the unexpected heroism of a simple shoemaker. Supported by AMC Network. Content Warning: Cartoon violence

A CRITTER FABLE

DIRECTED BY GRACE FISHER

8 Min | English | USA | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere

A caterpillar who can’t become a butterfly discovers he can still add color to the world in his own special ways. Featuring music and artwork by Amazing Grace star Grace Fisher, with critters created by children with disabilities in Santa Barbara. Supported by AMC Network.

girls with blonde curly hair facing a small in process landscape painting on an easel on her desk with paints and brushes. She is holding a brush in her mouth to paint

A MORNING WITH AROHA

DIRECTED BY NICHOLAS RIINI

11 Min | English | New Zealand | | Narrative

Short

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

Aroha, an imaginative young girl with Down syndrome, sets out to share her creativity with her neighbors. In partnership with AMC Network.

close up of light skinned girl with Down syndrome looking up and to the right. The left side of her face is shaded and she has a thoughtful expression

LOUIS’ SHOES

DIRECTED BY THÉO JAMIN, KAYU LEUNG, MARION PHILIPPE, JEAN-GÉRAUD BLANC

5 Min | French | France | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

Louis, an 8-and-a-half year old autistic boy, introduces himself at his new school in this imaginative tale about difference and acceptance. Supported by AMC Network.

FREEBIRD

DIRECTED BY MICHAEL JOSEPH MCDONALD, JOE BLUHM

5 Min | English | Canada | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

A boy with Down Syndrome learns to navigate the world with a loving mother, an absent father, a classroom bully, and a life-long crush. In partnership with AMC Network.

Animated Shorts

THE BODY IS A HOUSE OF FAMILIAR ROOMS

DIRECTED BY ELOISE SHERRID, LAURYN WELCH

10 Min | English | USA | | Documentary

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

A magical-realist exploration of the life of a man with chronic illness through footage and paintings. In partnership with AMC Network.

LOCKDOWN TALE

DIRECTED BY CAMERON CARR, MARIE TRUDOLUBOVA

6 Min | English | UK | | Documentary

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of Wawel Dragon. When the pandemic forces his university’s studios to shut down, animation student Cameron Carr sets to work creating his very own studio in his bedroom. Supported by AMC Network.

PROSOPAGNOSIA

DIRECTED BY STEVEN FRASER

10 Min | English | UK | | Documentary

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

Unraveling sketchbooks, photographs and diaries with unique animation, Prosopagnosia explores what it means to live with face-blindness and autism, and investigates concepts of intimacy, communication and memory. Supported by AMC Network.

BEAUTIFUL

DIRECTED BY MULAN FU

6 Min | Chinese | USA | | Narrative

Short | Open Captions | Audio Description

City Premiere | Audio Description produced by: AMC Network | Open Captions produced by: AMC Network

A teenage girl undergoes a transformative growth as she witnesses her mother’s fight against breast cancer. In partnership with AMC Network.

Time

(Sunday) 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location

Wexner Center for the Arts

1871 N High St

Learn More

Calendar GoogleCal

march

26mar1:00 pm3:00 pmNo Bone: Scars of Survival

april

30apr1:00 pm3:00 pmMove Me

Past Films

film still from those who spring from me showing two characters sitting on a couch on a porch with a trellis in the background. The male character is white and young, he is wearing a pink and yellow tie dye shirt and jeans. he is looking at the female character who is also white and young and wearing a maroon jacket and holding a newspaper

ReelAbilities Columbus Presents: Those Who Spring of Me & Live Talk-Back

Join us for the virtual film “Those Who Spring of Me!” & Live Talk-Back with Directors Nikki & Matt Swift ReelAbilities Columbus proudly presents: Those Who Spring of Me This film will be FREE to screen and available to view virtually for up to 48 hours with registration. Details on how to access the film […]

Mind Over Matter

A young man with Cerebral Palsy overcomes a paralyzed left hand, bullies, and stereotypes, dreaming of becoming a rock guitarist even while told he will never succeed. His dreams become reality as he leads his own band, inspired by the band Korn to express himself through music.

film still of light-skinned blonde woman with one typical arm and one arm missing from the elbow down in a pink cropped top with red roses walking down the street with stores and palm trees in the background

Single

SYNOPSIS: Kim, who was born with one arm, gets set up on a blind date. When she finally meets Jake, she quickly realizes he also has a physical disability, and she is pissed. An unapologetic perspective on the complexities of being disabled and dating. CREDITS: Directed by Ashley Eakin Title: Single Category: Short Genre: Rom-Com […]

light skinned man in glasses and a black long-sleeved shirt sitting at a table drawing a large bright artwork with chalk pastels

Don’t Foil My Plans

ReelAbilities Film Festival Columbus proudly presents: Don’t Foil My Plans About the Film For the past five years, award-winning director Ben Stamper has been following the life and work of Justin Canha, a New Jersey-based artist in his mid-twenties whose diagnosis places him in the middle of the autism spectrum. Justin’s goal is to move […]

film still from best summer ever showing students doing a choreographed dance at a school dance with their arm outstretched. Two main characters in the foreground, one is a boy with dark skin and the other is a girl with light skin who is using a wheelchair

Best Summer Ever Virtual Screening

Sage (Shannon DeVido) and Anthony (Rickey Wilson, Jr.) have had the “Best Summer Ever” after falling in love at a dance camp in Vermont. Not expecting to see each other again until the following summer, Sage, by a twist of fate, arrives unexpectedly at the same high school as Anthony. Now faced with the drama […]

Strange

SYNOPSIS: An animated glimpse into the life of an autistic author exploring friendship, trials, and the use of unique coping strategies. CREDITS: Directed by Cameron Carr Title: Strange Category: Short, Documentary Genre: animation Running Time: 3 minutes Country: United Kingdom Year: 2020 Language: English

film still from code of the freaks showing an actor sitting on a soundstage to the left with the film crew to the right of the image

ReelAbilities Columbus Presents: Code of the Freaks

ReelAbilities Columbus proudly presents: Code of the Freaks Date/Time: January 13, 7 PM This film will be FREE to screen and available to view virtually for up to 48 hours with registration. Details on how to access the film will be sent to you directly, once registered. You will receive the link and password to […]

man in cowboy hat playing guitar on stage with drum kit in background

Blue Spectrum Virtual Concert

In conjunction with the film, ReelAbilities is thrilled to bring you a live concert from Columbus band, Blue Spectrum. Being livestreamed from the Lazy Chameleon 4028 Presidential Pkwy Powell, Oh 43065. Tune in on the ReelAbilities Columbus Facebook page on June 17, at 7PM. About the Band It was always Zayne Harshaw’s dream to have […]

Event advertising image with text Best Summer Ever Film Talkback with Michael Parks Randa & Andrew Pilkington

Best Summer Ever Talkback with Michael Parks Randa and Andrew Pilkington

Join us for a live talkback via Zoom with Best Summer Ever’s director, Michael Parks Randa and film producer Andrew Pilkington. Register today to receive film and talkback reminders as well as the links you’ll need to access the Talkback. Reminder! Best Summer Ever will stream September 15-18. Make sure you catch it before the Talkback! […]

woman of color wearing a parka and using a wheelchair in the foreground with transportation van in background

ReelAbilities Columbus Presents: Give Me Liberty

In this freewheeling comedy, medical transport driver Vic risks his job to shuttle a group of rowdy seniors and a Russian boxer to a funeral, dragging clients like Tracy, a young woman with ALS, along for the ride. Director: Kirill Mikhanovsky Length: 110 min Films Date/Time: February 24, 7 PM Films will be FREE to screen and available […]