ReelAbilities
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What ReelAbilities does
ReelAbilities International, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered at 215 W. 92nd St, New York, that operates the world's largest disability film festival and a connected ecosystem of year-round disability-focused programming. The organization was launched at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and became an independent nonprofit in 2024. Its mission centers on reframing disability representation through film, supporting disabled creators, and providing gold-standard accessibility (open captions, audio description, ASL interpretation, CART captioning, sensory-friendly spaces) at all events.
The product portfolio spans multiple channels: the flagship ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York (now in its 18th edition, 35+ films across 20+ venues); ReelAbilities Stream, a proprietary accessible streaming platform launched July 2023 offering disability-focused film rentals at $1.99 (shorts/documentaries) and $3.99 (features), enhanced in November 2025 with the Poppins sensory-friendly viewing mode; ReelAbilities Industry Summit (annual, now in 5th edition) featuring pitch competitions with jurors from NBCUniversal, Amazon/MGM, ITVS, and AMC Networks; ReelEducation providing K-12 curriculum resources; ReelAbilities at the Workplace, a corporate DEI screening program; and a network of 10+ affiliate festivals across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The revenue model is a nonprofit hybrid dominated by donations and corporate sponsorships, supplemented by modest streaming transaction fees, in-person ticket sales, fiscal sponsorship fees for filmmaker projects, and the newly launched Loreen Arbus Completion Award ($10,000 prize). Named corporate sponsors include Pfizer, Vimeo, Nielsen, Barclays, NFL, Estee Lauder, and the Nielsen Foundation. Go-to-market combines event-driven programming, community-led advocacy, and direct sales to corporate DEI buyers. The organization is led by co-founder and CEO Isaac Zablocki, with COO Ravit Turjeman and Director of Engagement Lawrence Carter-Long.
ReelAbilities firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ReelAbilities
- Legal name
- ReelAbilities International, Inc.
- Website
- https://reelabilities.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ReelAbilities industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Film Festival and Cultural Nonprofit Programming
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description) (EDALAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts & Culture Documentaries (MPADADAI), Accessibility, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) & Inclusive Content Services (EDAGAKAJ), Training, Safety & Compliance Video (MPADAEAM)
Keywords
Where ReelAbilities is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ReelAbilities business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Individual donations through one-time and monthly giving programs, with options for dedication gifts. Corporate sponsorships and partnership packages providing visibility and engagement opportunities across year-round initiatives.
- Streaming Subscriptions and Rentals: ReelAbilities Stream generates revenue through individual film rentals priced at $1.99 for short films/documentaries and $3.99 for feature films, available for online viewing with full accessibility features.
- Ticket Sales and Festival Passes: Revenue from in-person festival tickets and passes, as well as virtual streaming access during festival windows and post-festival streaming periods.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Partnership packages for sponsors offering visibility across ReelAbilities Stream, ReelEducation, flagship Film Festival, and affiliate festivals. Includes national exposure and location-specific collaborations.
- Fiscal Sponsorship Program: Mentorship and fiscal sponsorship for disability-focused film projects and disabled creators, providing tax-exempt status and administrative support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Short films and documentaries streaming rental |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Feature films streaming rental |
| Subscription | Monthly | Individual donations |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
ReelAbilities product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ReelAbilities runs the world's largest dedicated disability film festival and a surrounding year-round programming ecosystem, including its flagship annual New York festival, affiliate festivals across North America, the ReelAbilities Industry Summit, the ReelEducation K-12 program, corporate workplace screenings, and the ReelAbilities Stream accessible on-demand streaming platform. Every offering is built around gold-standard accessibility (open captions, audio description, ASL interpretation, CART, sensory-friendly venues) and curates films by and about people with disabilities to advance authentic representation and inclusion.
Product overview
ReelAbilities is a nonprofit organization operating a platform-plus-programs architecture centered on disability storytelling through film. The core offerings include the flagship ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York (annual in-person and virtual film festival), ReelAbilities Stream (accessible streaming platform with on-demand disability-focused films), ReelAbilities Industry Summit (annual industry event for disability inclusion in entertainment), ReelEducation (K-12 educational resources), ReelAbilities at the Workplace (corporate DEI programming), ReelTalks (post-screening discussions), Affiliate Festivals (regional festival network), and Resources/Opportunities portals. The ecosystem is tied together through ReelAbilities Stream as the central digital platform, with the annual festival and industry summit driving content, partnerships, and community engagement across all programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ReelEducation: Free resources for educators to teach students about disability and Deaf culture, including films and lesson plans for grades K-12
- ReelAbilities Stream
- ReelAbilities at the Workplace
- Industry Summit
- ReelTalks
Products and services
- ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York (RFF NY) Annual flagship disability film festival in New York presenting 30+ films across 20+ venues with gold-standard accessibility features (open captions, audio description, ASL interpretation, CART), intended for disability community audiences, filmmakers, and industry professionals.
- ReelAbilities Stream Proprietary accessible streaming platform offering disability-focused films on demand for individual consumers, featuring sensory-friendly Poppins viewing modes, open captions, audio description, and ReelTalks conversations.
- ReelAbilities Industry Summit Annual premier industry gathering on disability inclusion in film and performing arts, featuring keynotes, pitch competitions, networking, and sessions on hiring, funding, and career opportunities for disabled creatives.
- ReelEducation Free educational resources for K-12 educators to teach students about disability and Deaf culture, including inclusion, empathy, universal design, mental health, and stereotypes, with films, lesson plans, and discussion guides.
- ReelAbilities at the Workplace Corporate workplace program bringing disability-focused films and facilitated conversations to offices to advance workplace inclusion and DEI objectives, including curated film selection, curatorial consultation, and accessibility guidance for hosting inclusive workplace events at companies such as Pfizer, Vimeo, Nielsen, Barclays, NFL, and Estee Lauder.
- Affiliate Festivals Network of regional ReelAbilities film festivals across North America extending the festival's disability storytelling mission to local audiences in cities including Chicago, Cleveland/Akron, Columbus, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico City, New Jersey, Greater Washington, Pittsburgh, and Toronto.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% of audience members report positive shifts in perception of disability after attending
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ReelAbilities
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ReelAbilities technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ReelAbilities partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- NYC Mayor's Office of Media & EntertainmentcoreOrganizing partner for the ReelAbilities Industry Summit, providing official support and collaboration for the premier industry gathering on disability inclusion in entertainment.
- Rotten TomatoesflagshipRotten Tomatoes Audience Award partnership, the inaugural award recognizing standout feature-length films at ReelAbilities and expanding critical and public conversation around disability storytelling.
- AMC Networks / AMC+coreOngoing partnership extending beyond visibility into practical career support for disabled creatives through industry participation, mentorship, and the AMC Global Media Mentorship program.
- ITVScorePitch program juror and mentorship provider for disabled filmmakers, offering DOC NYC PRO PASS and production support through the Crip Script nonfiction track.
- NBCUniversalcorePitch program juror and executive meeting provider for filmmakers competing in the Rough-Cut Pitch program, expanding industry relationships.
- Amazon Prime Video / MGM StudioscorePitch program juror for disabled filmmakers, providing industry feedback and potential distribution pathways.
- Impact PartnerscorePitch program juror providing documentary filmmaking expertise and potential funding connections.
- NYC Public SchoolsflagshipGroundbreaking partnership providing all K-12 educators unlimited access to ReelAbilities films, lesson plans, and discussion guides through the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning.
- The Valuable 500corePartnership for Industry Summit advertising panel examining disability representation standards in advertising and shaping cultural narratives.
- Walk and Roll for SCIminorCollaborating partner for ReelCommunity 2026, showcasing resources available year-round to people of all ages, stages, and abilities.
- Shine GlobalcorePartnership award for pitch competition winners, supporting documentary filmmaking focused on disability and social issues.
- NYWIFTcorePartnership awards for filmmakers at ReelAbilities, recognizing outstanding work and building bridges across film and advocacy.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ReelAbilities competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sprout Film Festival: New York-based disability film festival operated by the JCC Manhattan ecosystem; the closest direct competitor to ReelAbilities in curating and screening films by and about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with overlapping NYC audience and venue pool.
- SUPERFEST International Disability Film Festival: Long-running disability film festival hosted by the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco, directly competing for disability-focused film premieres, audience, and sponsorship attention within the same niche as ReelAbilities.
Emerging players
- RespectAbility: National nonprofit advancing disability inclusion in entertainment, politics, and the workplace; competes with ReelAbilities for corporate DEI consulting budgets, studio talent pipelines, and policy/advocacy visibility in the same disability-and-media space.
- Inclusion Films: Disability-led film production and training program focused on preparing filmmakers with developmental disabilities for Hollywood careers; overlaps with ReelAbilities on Industry Summit programming, mentorship, and filmmaker pipeline development.
Broad incumbents
- Tribeca Festival: Major New York-based film festival that has added accessibility programming and disability-themed sections; competes with ReelAbilities for the same NYC venue partners, sponsor pool, and filmmaker attention.
- Sundance Film Festival: Premier US independent film festival with an accessibility program; competes for prestige, sponsor dollars, and film premieres at a much larger scale, and its accessibility lab defines the bar ReelAbilities must exceed in disability programming.
- Hot Docs: North America's largest documentary festival, screening many of the same feature-length disability documentaries that compete for ReelAbilities programming slots; a key acquisition and festival-circuit competitor for premiere films.
- DOC NYC: America's largest documentary festival, an industry partner of ReelAbilities through ITVS but also a venue competitor for the same feature documentary premieres, audiences, and corporate sponsors in New York.
Others
- Easterseals: National disability services nonprofit with deep corporate and donor relationships; competes indirectly with ReelAbilities for philanthropic dollars and corporate partner attention in the broader disability-inclusion space.
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): Major cross-disability civil rights organization that overlaps with ReelAbilities on policy advocacy, corporate inclusion engagement, and donor audiences, though without a film-festival focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ReelAbilities social profiles
Digital presenceReelAbilities financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ReelAbilities leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ReelAbilities funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ReelAbilities M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ReelAbilities
What does ReelAbilities do?
ReelAbilities runs the world's largest dedicated disability film festival and a surrounding year-round programming ecosystem, including its flagship annual New York festival, affiliate festivals across North America, the ReelAbilities Industry Summit, the ReelEducation K-12 program, corporate workplace screenings, and the ReelAbilities Stream accessible on-demand streaming platform. Every offering is built around gold-standard accessibility (open captions, audio description, ASL interpretation, CART, sensory-friendly venues) and curates films by and about people with disabilities to advance authentic representation and inclusion.
Is ReelAbilities a public or private company?
ReelAbilities is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ReelAbilities founded?
ReelAbilities was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is ReelAbilities based?
ReelAbilities is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does ReelAbilities make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are streaming Subscriptions and Rentals, ticket Sales and Festival Passes, corporate Sponsorships and fiscal Sponsorship Program.
Who are ReelAbilities's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sprout Film Festival and SUPERFEST International Disability Film Festival. Emerging players are RespectAbility and Inclusion Films. Broad incumbents are Tribeca Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Hot Docs and DOC NYC. Others are Easterseals and American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
Does ReelAbilities have an API?
No public API is recorded for ReelAbilities.
What industry is ReelAbilities in?
ReelAbilities's product category is Disability Film Festival and Cultural Nonprofit Programming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAGAC, Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description), with a secondary code of MPADADAI, Arts & Culture Documentaries. Its NAICS code is 5121 and its SIC code is 7812.