“This festival
is truly like no other and even the filmmakers have been transformed in the
process,” Isaac Zablocki told OPOYI in an interview while sharing some of his
exhilarating experience working as the co-founder of ReelAbilities: NY
Disabilities Film Festival, the largest festival for people with differently abled in
the US. 

“One filmmaker one year met an actor with a disability at the
festival and ended up featuring him in her next film! Others have made career
changes to dedicate their lives to working on themes relating to disabilities,”
he further added.

The festival runs in over 40 locations throughout the New
York Metro area and in18 major cities throughout North America. 

Some of the films that were screened at the event include
Indian film ‘Margarita with a Straw’ starring Kalki Koechlin as Punjabi teenage girl suffering
from cerebral palsy. The funky stereotype-busting coming-of-age tale is based on
the true story.

 ‘Crip Camp’ is
another film that was part of the festival. Directors Nicole Newnham and Jim
LeBrecht deliver a rousing film about a group of campers turned activists who
shaped the future of the disability-rights movement and changed accessibility
legislation for everyone.

Zablocki, who is also the director of Film Programs at JCC
Manhattan, is gearing up to participate in India’s first-ever National Ability
Summit to be hosted virtually by Varija Life, a Not for Profit Organisation
under fashion and lifestyle brand Varija Bajaj. The event will take place for
two days starting on December 2 and will see acclaimed names from media, films,
fashion, and lifestyle, speaking on the need to create awareness on disability
and creating an environment for them where they feel welcomed.

As ReelAbilities has helped give a new meaning to films for
and by persons with a disability, how Zablocki feel it has helped Hollywood
filmmakers and actor take note of these movies and he answered, “I’d like
to think the festival helped, but I realize we are part of a much larger
movement and give credit to all those who helped shift the needle.”

“What is clear, we have seen great progress over the 14 years
we have been working on this,” he further said.

For him, ReelAbilities Film Festival selects great films that
put disability in the spotlight in a responsible way “in order to change
perceptions, attitudes and celebrate the disability community.”

“For this to work, we need to feature films that speak both
to the insiders (the disability community) and outsiders (those who do not
realize they are connected to this community.) Therefore, we need to select
films that speak broadly, yet play very authentically. Human stories are a key
element to this success. Beyond the production levels, these high-quality films
cross boundaries and speak universally because of their authenticity,” he said.

Most of their films are not local but global, says the
director and co-founder.

“From the very start we knew this program needs to reach much
further than just our local audience. Communities around the world have really
taken to it. It is important to note that each community lends its own unique
taste and style to their program,” he said.

Zablocki is now gearing up to share his experience and the
road ahead for differently able indivisuals at the National Ability Summit.