TRACK 1: PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT
ReelAbilities is thrilled to announce the 2026 Crip Script Pitch Program: Development Track, taking place during the Festival’s Industry Summit: Disability Inclusion in Film + Performing Arts on April 27–28, 2026, in New York City.
This year’s development pitch track will showcase fiction, nonfiction, and TV/episodic projects, creating an extraordinary opportunity for filmmakers with disabilities to present their ideas before a panel of industry leaders and a live audience of film and performing arts professionals.
Participants will compete for exciting prizes, including cash awards, mentorship from seasoned professionals, access to filming and editing equipment, accessibility resources, and other career-advancing opportunities.
SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT
TRACK 2: PROJECTS IN ROUGH-CUT / COMPLETION STAGE
ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is excited to once again present the Rough-Cut Pitch Program and the Loreen Arbus Completion Award, taking place during the ReelAbilities Industry Summit on April 27–28, 2026, in New York City.
This unique program invites fiction and nonfiction film projects in the rough-cut stage with at least one key creative (writer or director) with a disability. From the pool of submissions, 3–4 projects will be selected to pitch their work before a panel of leading industry professionals.
Participants will compete for a $10,000 cash prize presented by Loreen Arbus Productions, mentorship from seasoned professionals, access to filming and editing equipment, accessibility resources, and other career-advancing opportunities.
SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT
ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Among our judges:
AND THE WINNERS ARE...
$10,000 in cash + Audio Description by Woman of Her Word: Rare by Ashley Eakin and Shawn Lovering (presented by ReelAbilities’ CEO Isaac Zablocki)
THE 2025 LOREEN ARBUS COMPLETION AWARD
"This award has been critical for our project, RARE. This financial backing empowers us to move forward with confidence, even in the face of uncertainty.” Ashley Eakin, Director, Rare
Additional 2025 winners
SHINE GLOBAL SCRIPT AWARD
$2,500 in cash: Remedial by Laurie Gardiner
ROUGH-CUT PITCH SOUND MIXING
by Gigantic Studios: Grateful Deaf by George Martens
CRIP SCRIPT – TV CATEGORY
AMC Networks Mentorship: After School by Mary Theresa Archbold
CRIP SCRIPT – FICTION CATEGORY
AMC Networks Mentorship: Adaptation by D’Arcee Charington Neal and Lauren Malone
CRIP SCRIPT – DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY
ITVS Mentorship: Raving for Access by Connor and Ryan Roach