CLEVELAND, Ohio -- ReelAbilities Film Festival is set to take place virtually this year for its Cleveland and Akron audiences, as a result of ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions on large gatherings.
The fest, which features films created by and about people with disabilities, will take place Oct. 3-30 in a virtual streaming format. Each movie is free to view and open to the public, with registration required.
Along with four movie screenings, discussions and interactive activities will take place virtually, via Zoom.
All films will include open captions and audio descriptions. Interactive events will also provide both sign language and speech-to-text interpretations, according to a press release.
“We will miss our in-person audiences this year, but we wanted to keep everyone safe and healthy,” said Katti Sorboro, director of ReelAbilities Film Festival’s Cleveland branch, in a press release. “We think that people will like the new virtual format. It’s flexible and allows viewers plenty of time to watch the films at home and at their convenience before tuning in to our great live discussions and activities.”
ReelAbilities kicked off in New York in 2007, and picked up other host cities across the country. Cleveland became a host city in 2017, and Akron in 2019.
Check out the film festival lineup below, and find more information about event registration at reelabilities.org/cleveland.
2020 Festival Lineup
Oct. 3-10: Film viewing, “Ian, JMaxx and the Universal Language”
8 p.m., Oct. 8: Hip-hop movement and education workshop, and Q&A
11:30 a.m., Oct. 9: Children’s art activities
Oct. 9-16: Film viewing, “Moment to Moment, Revel in Your Body, Don’t Foil My Plans”
7:30 p.m., Oct. 15: Discussion on art therapy
8 p.m., Oct. 15: Filmmaker Q&A
Oct. 16-23: Film viewing, “Sock Guys, 25 Prospect St.”
8 p.m., Oct. 22: Filmmaker Q&A
Oct. 23-30: Film viewing, “Code of the Freaks”
8 p.m., Oct. 28: Filmmaker Q&A