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Initiated by JCC Manhattan in 2007, ReelAbilities is the largest festival in the country dedicated to presenting award-winning films made by and about people with different disabilities, to celebrate diversity and inclusion. The festival also includes post-screening discussions, author talks and more.
Friday, March 11 -- "Voice of the Voiceless" and "Welcome to the Last Bookstore" will be screened at CNR at 12:30 p.m., in Romita Auditorium. "Voice of the Voiceless" is a silent film that follows a teenager with hearing impairment who is lured from Central America to New York City under a false promise.
"Welcome to the Last Bookstore" showcases a day in the life of a bookstore owner who is also a father, husband, small business owner and paraplegic. Maximon Monihan, director of Voice of the Voiceless, will join viewers for a discussion after the screening.
Tuesday, March 15 -- "Do You Dream in Color?" and "Bumblebees" will be screened at 4:30 p.m. in Romita Auditorium. "Do You Dream in Color?" tells the coming-of-age story of four teens who navigate the growing pains of high school while dealing with the challenges of blindness. In "Bumblebees," a young man who was told he would never walk or talk faces a new challenge: dating. The directors of these films will be on hand for a post-screening discussion.
All screenings are free and open to the public. The CNR-screened films are captioned or subtitled, and the event is wheelchair accessible. Further accommodations are available with at least two weeks' advance request.
"At a time when diversity and inclusion is lacking on our screens, we put disabilities in the forefront with hopes that this will bring the New York community to further recognize the country's largest minority," said Isaac Zablocki, director and co-founder of the festival.
For a complete listing of films during the New York festival, click here.
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