ReelAbilities Film Festival 2026
ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is the world’s leading film festival dedicated to advancing disability representation, accessibility, and inclusion through the power of storytelling. Renowned for its wide-ranging, award-winning international films, the festival showcases work by and about people with disabilities, positioning disability culture at the center of the contemporary arts landscape.
Each year, ReelAbilities presents a curated selection of feature films, documentaries, and shorts that challenge stereotypes, expand perspectives, and highlight authentic lived experiences. Screenings are followed by thought-provoking conversations with filmmakers, artists, protagonists, and subject-matter experts, fostering dialogue around disability justice, equity, creativity, and social impact.
Check out this year’s U.S. Latinx and Latin American selections, co-presented by Cinema Tropical.
CONCERTO FOR OTHER HANDS / CONCIERTO PARA OTRAS MANOS
(Ernesto González Díaz, Mexico, 2024, 79 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
David dreams of being a pianist like his father, José Luis, who believes it impossible due to his son's physical characteristics: short arms, hands with four fingers and limited hearing. Thanks to his tenacity, David shows him that he can play in his own way and together they begin a musical path that culminates in a new challenge for David: premiering, during the pandemic, the difficult concerto for piano and orchestra that his father composed for him.
Monday, April 27, 8pm at the The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (MMJCCM)
Wednesday, April 29, 7pm at the The Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch (BPL)
Friday, April 24 - Sunday, May 3 online (available only in the New York Tri-State Area)
ESPINA
(Daniel Poler, Panama/USA, 2025, 89 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
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.
THE BLIND REGGAETONERA
(River Zhihui Zhang, USA, 27min. In English)
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.”
