For the third year, the Staenberg-Loup JCC’s (JCC Denver) Mizel Arts and Culture Center is bringing the ReelAbilities Film Festival to Denver, Colorado, from November 17-19. These film festivals happen internationally with the mission to share the artistic stories of people living with disabilities. At this year’s event, 13 films will play along with supplemental programming and question and answer sessions.
The movies are cultivated to appeal to everyone including those experiencing varying levels of ability, artists and film buffs. Many attend to support and learn more about the voices of people living with disabilities. Others go simply to watch good films not typically found in mainstream media.
Extra offerings include educational panels on topics like fashion accessibility and mental health. There will also be an exhibition showcasing art created by people with disabilities using technology. Education and awareness to promote a more inclusive community are at the center of each piece of programming.
“ReelAbilities is a unique opportunity for us to galvanize together as an international community,” said Ari Shahbazi, the interim director of JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center. “It is a space where we celebrate the differences of our shared human experience and can understand each other on a deeper and more meaningful level.”
Connecting Internationally
The ReelAbilities Film Festival started at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in 2007. It was the first of its kind to focus on films from this group of people. It has spread to 18 other cities in the U.S. and internationally to Mexico and Canada.
“Their message aligns with our core value of inclusivity,” said Shahbazi. “The JCC Denver prides itself on showcasing a diverse range of artistic programming. Plus, having begun at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, it has paved the way for others JCCs to successfully replicate this meaningful festival.”
Connecting Locally
Along with connecting JCC Denver to other cities, the ReelAbilities Film Festival has become a catalyst for collaboration with the local community as well.
“Hosting this international festival in Denver allows us to bring high-quality programming to a local level while continuing to foster partnerships with local organizations who are doing incredible work to serve the disability community and advocates,” said Shahbazi. “Through the supplemental programming we offer, ReelAbilities gives attendees the chance to learn about, and connect with, these local organizations. For example, the event’s opening night will have artists from a local nonprofit who will be drawing caricatures of attendees.”
Awareness and Implementation
Shahbazi said how inclusivity must be acted upon and not simply talked about. Along with the educational aspects of the event, ensuring the facility is accessible and ADA-compliant is vital. They are also providing assistive technology and training staff to truly celebrate the lives of people with disabilities.
Other ways they are making the festival accessible for everyone includes a sliding scale for ticket prices from $6 to $17, which lets attendees choose what works best in their budget. There will also be ASL interpretation, caption and audio descriptions for the films, and online accessibility to the movies from specific dates that people can watch from home. All these choices are made to ensure diversity is implemented as well as shared.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical for us to show up for each other, acknowledge the common denominators that bring us together and embrace the diversity that constitutes our collective,” said Shahbazi.
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