2025 FESTIVALApril 2-12, 2025Lansing, MI

ReelAbilities Shorts

ReelAbilities celebrates disability, promotes inclusion, and advances accessibility through film. The short films in this program have been curated in partnership with the ReelAbilities Film Festival.

*FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE*

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  • Dungeons, Goblins and Broccoli
  • To My Father
  • Donald
  • Bear
  • Working Differently
  • Deaf Giants
  • Portraits of Poppy

Dungeons, Goblins and Broccoli

A group of avid Dungeons and Dragons players embarks on their next quest, but their game takes a turn when a newcomer arrives. Distracted by her presence, the players become embroiled in a competition for her attention, but how far will they go to win her hand?

  • DIRECTOR
    Dan Sanguineti
  • YEAR
    2022
  • RUNTIME
    9 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    Australia

To My Father

In March 2022, Troy Kotsur became the first Deaf man to win the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for CODA. During his emotional acceptance speech, Troy paid tribute to his dad, his “hero”. To My Father is the story of Troy’s father’s influence on him beyond the speech that moved millions.

  • DIRECTOR
    Sean Schiavolin
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    23 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    ASL, English
  • COUNTRY
    United States

Donald

A dancer moves with his wheelchair in surprising ways, pushing the art form’s boundaries, as he prepares for a live performance.

  • DIRECTOR
    Dylan S. Tuccillo
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    9 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    US

Bear

Jude, a neurodivergent creative, tries her best to fit into a typical world. While desperately in need of a job, an already tense interview is made even worse by the fact that no one wants to mention the bear in the room.

  • DIRECTOR
    Kate Hammer
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    11 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    UK

Working Differently

Through a series of interviews with crew and established industry figures, we are exposed to the importance of accessibility and inclusion within the film and television industry and shown why this should become the industry standard.

  • DIRECTOR
    Hannah Currie
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    24 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    UK

Deaf Giants

Baseball-loving 10-year-old Bracken and his younger deaf brother investigate the contrast between early 1900s inclusion of deaf players in baseball and the present, seeking to understand why representation has regressed.

  • DIRECTOR
    Peter Hoffman Kimball
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    9 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    US

Portraits of Poppy

A young woman named Poppy struggles with her crippling ADHD, her unrealized dreams of becoming a robot inventor, and the heartache of a recent breakup– but don’t worry, it’s funny!

  • DIRECTOR
    Thomas Streed
  • YEAR
    2025
  • RUNTIME
    28 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    United States
Check out other upcoming events
  • Sat, April 5 11:00 AM
  • The Robin Theatre
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  • Sat, April 5 6:00 PM
  • Stage One
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  • Sat, April 5 6:00 PM
  • Central United Methodist Church
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  • Sat, April 5 3:30 PM
  • Impression 5 Expansion
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  • Sat, April 5 8:30 PM
  • Stage One
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  • Sat, April 5 3:30 PM
  • Stage One
More Info
  • Sat, April 5 1:00 PM
  • Impression 5 Expansion
More Info
  • Sat, April 5 8:30 PM
  • Central United Methodist Church
More Info
  • Sat, April 5 3:30 PM
  • Central United Methodist Church
More Info
  • Sat, April 5 10:30 PM
  • Central United Methodist Church
More Info
  • Sat, April 5 6:00 PM
  • Impression 5 Expansion
More Info
  • Sat, April 5 8:30 PM
  • Impression 5 Expansion
More Info