Rate and Review the Films Screening at the ReelAbilities Film Festival 2026
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Submit your Audience Reviews for films at the festival below and cast your vote for the Rotten Tomatoes Audience Award HERE! Only new feature-length releases are eligible for the Audience Award (shorts, restorations, and anniversary films are not eligible).
Thursday, April 23
LONE WOLVES – 7:30pm (95 mins)
Director: Ryan Cunningham
Fran, determined to have a baby on her own terms, enlists Ben, her high school acquaintance, for a DIY insemination weekend. But when plans derail, their reunion becomes a funny journey through love, loss, and second chances.
Special Appearance and Q&A with Director Ryan Cunningham and cast members.
Friday, April 24
REELSHORTS: FAMILY SHORTS – 4:00pm (30 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: Macropolis, Anything You Can Do, Louis’ Shoes, Picked
NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE – 6:00pm (96 minutes)
Director: Gail Freedman
With a fusion of intimate storytelling and broad reportage, No One Cares About Crazy People is an immersive deep dive into the crisis and chaos of severe mental illness (SMI). The documentary humanizes the face of SMI with a small cast of memorable characters, followed in real time over several years, as they — as well as their families — navigate a system that too often seems to conspire against them. The historic roots of this national crisis are traced, as well as the emergence of bold but controversial activism that seeks to reinvent those failed policies. Inspired by the book of the same name by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Ron Powers. With narration by actor Bob Odenkirk and original music by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy.
WESTHAMPTON – 7:00pm (93 minutes)
Director: Christian Nillson
A filmmaker returns to his hometown for the first time in a decade, carrying the weight of an accident he caused and hurt that hasn’t healed. Moving between the present and the indie film he once made about the tragedy, we explore how his version of events differs from what actually occurred, and the lingering toll of that revision. Intimate and emotionally direct, Westhampton is a coming-of-age drama about coming home, the stories we tell, and the difficult quest for accountability when the person harmed is no longer here to forgive.
Saturday, April 25
REELSHORTS: GROWING PAINS – 1:00pm (125 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: A vivid window into the worlds of youth, navigating identity, talent, and challenges in unexpected ways. Boys, Gum, Key of Genius, Late-Diagnosed, Little Monsters, Sūnna
REELSHORTS: STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION LIBRARY– 1:00pm (57 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: Beyond Each Frame, The Blind Reggaetonera, Rag Dolls
REELSHORTS: AGAINST THE CURRENT – 2:30pm (57 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: A collection of shorts examining lives shaped by adversity and circumstance. Circle Hook, Rag Dolls, White Nine, Creating Space to Succeed
DREAM TOUCH BELIEVE – 3:00pm (85 minutes)
Director: Jenna Naranjo Winters
Dream Touch Believe features the inspiring story of blind, Indigenous sculptor Michael Naranjo. As a young man Naranjo lost his eyesight and the use of one hand in the Vietnam War. But he harnessed his inner vision, fought past critics and successfully achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a sculptor. Beyond his art, Naranjo’s inspiring journey is one that sparks hope in people of all ages and from all walks. This emotional and captivating story is ultimately a testament to resilience, creativity and the power of pursuing one’s dream against all odds.
REELSHORTS: CLOSE & PERSONAL – 4:30pm (57 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: A collection of bold, personal stories of people forging their own paths. With honesty, humor, and heart, these films explore identity, belonging, and self-expression.
VIKTOR – 6:00pm (89 minutes)
Director: Oliver Sarbil
Viktor, a young Deaf man in Kharkiv, watches warily during the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A fan of samurai films and raised on stories of war, he dreams of becoming a warrior but is repeatedly denied when he tries to enlist. Eager to find purpose, Viktor embarks on a quest to find his place in the midst of a war he cannot hear. Elegantly fusing rigorous reportage with cinematic subjectivity, Viktor offers a deeply personal perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. An audiovisual experience delicately crafted to mirror that of its subject, Viktor is a testimony of a Deaf person navigating through chaos and violence.
Sunday, April 26
DREAM TOUCH BELIEVE – 1:00pm (85 minutes)
Director: Jenna Naranjo Winters
Dream Touch Believe features the inspiring story of blind, Indigenous sculptor Michael Naranjo. As a young man Naranjo lost his eyesight and the use of one hand in the Vietnam War. But he harnessed his inner vision, fought past critics and successfully achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a sculptor. Beyond his art, Naranjo’s inspiring journey is one that sparks hope in people of all ages and from all walks. This emotional and captivating story is ultimately a testament to resilience, creativity and the power of pursuing one’s dream against all odds.
VIKTOR – 2:00pm (89 minutes)
Director: Oliver Sarbil
Viktor, a young Deaf man in Kharkiv, watches warily during the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A fan of samurai films and raised on stories of war, he dreams of becoming a warrior but is repeatedly denied when he tries to enlist. Eager to find purpose, Viktor embarks on a quest to find his place in the midst of a war he cannot hear. Elegantly fusing rigorous reportage with cinematic subjectivity, Viktor offers a deeply personal perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. An audiovisual experience delicately crafted to mirror that of its subject, Viktor is a testimony of a Deaf person navigating through chaos and violence.
REELSHORTS: WHITNEY MUSEUM – 2:00pm (24 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: We Are The Audience, Beyond Each Frame
HORSEGIRLS – 3:00pm (101 minutes)
Director: Lauren Meyering
Horsegirls is the story of 22-year-old Margarita, a young woman with autism, who discovers the world of hobbyhorsing and sets out to prove her independence to her mother — stick horse and all. Encouraged by a supportive coach, her mom, and her community, Margarita gains confidence to forge her own path.
MY EVERYTHING – 5:30pm (94 minutes)
Director: Anne-Sophie Bailly
Mona lives with her 30-year-old son, Joël, who is “late”. He works in a specialized Institution, an ESAT, and passionately loves his colleague Océane, who also has a disability. While Mona doesn’t know anything about this relationship, she learns that Océane is pregnant. The fusional relationship between mother and son is faltering.
Monday, April 27
REELSHORTS: SHAMES JCC ON THE HUDSON – 2:00pm (56 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: White Nine, The Blind Reggaetonera
REELSHORTS: GOLD COAST ARTS – 2:00pm (59 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: Key of Genius, Talk, White Nine, Rearranged, Late-Diagnosised
REELSHORTS: EXPRESSIONS – 6:00pm (75 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: Through bold creativity and personal vision, these films follow artists redefining identity on their own terms. Beyond Each Frame, The Blind Reggaetonera, Once More Like Rain Man, The How We Look Project
VIKTOR – 7:00pm (89 minutes)
Director: Oliver Sarbil
Viktor, a young Deaf man in Kharkiv, watches warily during the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A fan of samurai films and raised on stories of war, he dreams of becoming a warrior but is repeatedly denied when he tries to enlist. Eager to find purpose, Viktor embarks on a quest to find his place in the midst of a war he cannot hear. Elegantly fusing rigorous reportage with cinematic subjectivity, Viktor offers a deeply personal perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. An audiovisual experience delicately crafted to mirror that of its subject, Viktor is a testimony of a Deaf person navigating through chaos and violence.
HEAVY HEALING – 7:00pm (98 minutes)
Director: Howie Abrams
Much like Rock ‘n’ Roll before it, heavy, aggressive music, including but not limited to Heavy Metal, Punk, Hardcore, and underground Hip-Hop, has gotten a bad rap since inception. Be that as it may, many who have been impacted by a wide variety of enervating conditions have come to rely on the output of heavy artists to successfully assist them through severe illness, weighty medical conditions, or debilitating mental health challenges. Heavy Healing seeks to dispel rumors and shine a much deserved light on the healing powers of aggressive music. You will hear directly and candidly from artists, fans, and industry types; remarkable individuals who have leaned on (or even become) “controversial” music makers in order to inspire and be inspired through the grueling process of recovery from the grips of cancer, anxiety and depression, strokes, heart attacks, cerebral palsy, complex blood diseases, juvenile diabetes, and HIV/AIDS, to name a few.
Tuesday, April 28
KEAN PRESENTS: 2025 AUDIENCE FAVORITE SHORTS – 11:00am (68 minutes)
ReelAbilities NJ at Kean University presents a curated selection of standout films from the 2025 New York Festival! A Stupid Man, Sleepyhead, Don’t Look Away, Unholy
KEAN PRESENTS: AN UNQUIET MIND + THIS BODY IS A SHELL – 11:00am (68 minutes)
ReelAbilities NJ at Kean University presents a curated selection of standout films from the 2025 New York Festival! An Unquiet Mind, This Body is a Shell
DISPOSABLE HUMANITY – 6:00pm (95 minutes)
Director: Cameron S. Mitchell
The Mitchell family, a family of Disability Studies scholars and filmmakers, has researched The Nazi Aktion T4 program since the 1990s. Through conversations with memorial directors, disabled people, and relatives of T4 victims, they uncover the horrifying truth: that the Nazi Aktion T4 program was, in fact, the program where the Nazis trained killing staff and designed the apparatus of mass murder that led to the Holocaust. Disabled people were the first victims to be killed under the Third Reich, and in this investigative documentary, the Mitchells reveal how this history has been covered over and erased from international public memory.
THE BLIND REGGAETONERA – 6:00pm (27 minutes)
Director: River Zhihui Zhang
This documentary chronicles the inspiring journey of Precious Perez, a young woman redefining what it means to live with a disability while giving back to her community. Through her story, we explore the intersection of music, vision, romance, disability rights, and the fight for equal access to education. As Precious pursues her dream, she also dedicates herself to educating and inspiring the next generation of blind children, showing them that their potential is limitless. Precious’s perception of her disability identity is perhaps best captured in her own words: “If I had the choice to see, and to cure it, I wouldn’t do it. I don’t need to be fixed. For me, it’s just who I am.”
96 LBS. OF DYNAMITE– 6:30pm (79 minutes)
Director: Loren Goldfarb
When director Loren Goldfarb first spotted Chad “Shorty” McDaniel at a pool hall in Florida, he figured the guy in the motorized wheelchair with tiny arms and legs couldn’t be any good. Then he saw him play! By the end of that grueling day, Chad had beaten six opponents and earned a spot in one of the game’s top amateur tournaments. Following Chad in the months leading up to the big event and traveling with him out West, 96 lbs. of Dynamite explores the myriad obstacles life with brittle bone disease (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) presents, and how one man from humble roots fights low expectations and discrimination with wit, grit, and determination. Along the way, Chad suffers devastating personal losses and makes a major career decision with potentially significant ramifications. We travel with Chad to his small, rural Mississippi birthplace where he learned to play pool and return to the site of his very public battles to overcome institutional barriers.
KEAN PRESENTS: COLOR BOOK + ¡SALSA! – 6:30Pm (119 minutes)
ReelAbilities NJ at Kean University presents a curated selection of standout films from the 2025 New York Festival! Color Book, ¡Salsa!
REELSHORTS: RELAXED SCREENING – 6:30pm (45 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: Once More, like Rain Man, SŪNNA, Late-Diagnosised, Misfit
NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE – 7:00pm (96 minutes)
Director: Gail Freedman
With a fusion of intimate storytelling and broad reportage, No One Cares About Crazy People is an immersive deep dive into the crisis and chaos of severe mental illness (SMI). The documentary humanizes the face of SMI with a small cast of memorable characters, followed in real time over several years, as they — as well as their families — navigate a system that too often seems to conspire against them. The historic roots of this national crisis are traced, as well as the emergence of bold but controversial activism that seeks to reinvent those failed policies. Inspired by the book of the same name by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Ron Powers. With narration by actor Bob Odenkirk and original music by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy.
MY BRAIN: AFTER THE RUPTURE– 8:15pm (88 minutes)
Director: Ursula Macfarlane
On a bright January morning in 2020, writer, broadcaster, and musician Clemency Burton-Hill suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage. After emerging from a 17-day coma, she was unable to speak or walk and faced the daunting task of rebuilding her life from the ground up. Drawing on raw and intimate recordings captured during the earliest stages of her recovery, this documentary traces Clemmie’s determined effort to reclaim her identity. As she works to return to broadcasting, finish the book she began before her injury, and once again play the violin with her son, the film becomes a moving reflection on resilience, creativity, and the healing power of the arts.
Wednesday, April 29
REELSHORTS: MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY – 6:30pm (57 minutes)
A collection of ReelAbilities Shorts: Them That’s Not, Bas Survivor, The Blind Reggaetonera
96 LBS. OF DYNAMITE– 5:30pm (79 minutes)
Director: Loren Goldfarb
When director Loren Goldfarb first spotted Chad “Shorty” McDaniel at a pool hall in Florida, he figured the guy in the motorized wheelchair with tiny arms and legs couldn’t be any good. Then he saw him play! By the end of that grueling day, Chad had beaten six opponents and earned a spot in one of the game’s top amateur tournaments. Following Chad in the months leading up to the big event and traveling with him out West, 96 lbs. of Dynamite explores the myriad obstacles life with brittle bone disease (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) presents, and how one man from humble roots fights low expectations and discrimination with wit, grit, and determination. Along the way, Chad suffers devastating personal losses and makes a major career decision with potentially significant ramifications. We travel with Chad to his small, rural Mississippi birthplace where he learned to play pool and return to the site of his very public battles to overcome institutional barriers.
DISPOSABLE HUMANITY – 7:00pm (95 minutes)
Director: Cameron S. Mitchell
The Mitchell family, a family of Disability Studies scholars and filmmakers, has researched The Nazi Aktion T4 program since the 1990s. Through conversations with memorial directors, disabled people, and relatives of T4 victims, they uncover the horrifying truth: that the Nazi Aktion T4 program was, in fact, the program where the Nazis trained killing staff and designed the apparatus of mass murder that led to the Holocaust. Disabled people were the first victims to be killed under the Third Reich, and in this investigative documentary, the Mitchells reveal how this history has been covered over and erased from international public memory.
WE MIGHT REGRET THIS – 7:30pm (80 minutes)
Director: Angus MacLachlan
We Might Regret This follows Freya (Kyla Harris), a 30-something Canadian artist and tetraplegic, who moves to London to live with her new partner, Abe (Darren Boyd), a 50-something straight-laced lawyer. Due to her disability, Freya requires round-the-clock assistance from a dedicated PA. After failing to find the right person, Freya hires her chaotic and impulsive best friend Jo (Elena Saurel) to take on the role. The show explores the complex, often messy boundaries between friendship, romance and caregiving.
Thursday, April 30
ESPINA – 7:30pm (89 minutes)
Director: Angus MacLachlan
Bitter after losing his job, Venezuelan expat Jonathan plans a holiday to Panama City before his spinal surgery. Paraplegic and unable to travel far on his own, he recruits a down-on-her-luck actress and a cynical playboy as makeshift aides for the journey from Mexico City. Lavishly funded by donations meant for his “surgery,” this unlikely trio ventures into Panama’s wild side, and it’s no longer clear if Jonathan chose his destination for diversion or to avenge a long-held grudge. This irreverent and vibrant film draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of Jonathan, who portrays himself in this tale of self-discovery.
