Chicago Film Festival Promotes More Disability Representation in Media

BACKBONES is hosting the ReelAbilities Film Festival Chicago every Thursday during the month of August. The festival is dedicated to sharing the human experience of disability through art and film. ReelAbilities will screen a variety of films, workshops, panels, and other arts programming at different venues in Chicago. The 2019 theme is “Diversify Diversity” with the goal of increasing disability representation and inclusiveness in media and all aspects of our city.

The first ReelAbilities Chicago was hosted by BACKBONES in September 2015 and had the support of ADA25 Chicago, a city-wide initiative by Chicago Community Trust celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The five-day festival offered free film screenings and arts programming accessible to people of all abilities.

ReelAbilities Chicago 2019 partners include Chicago Cultural Center, Kartemquin Films, Victory Gardens Access Project, Kessler Optical, Access Living, Illinois Art Council, and more.

All events are FREE to the public! Attendees may request wheelchair seating, audio description, captioning, or a sign language interpreter during the RSVP process.

For more information visit: https://reelabilities.org/chicago/