Easterseals Disability Film Challenge

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Logo For Press Release

The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge is a weekend-long filmmaking contest, originally launched in 2014 by actor, now also ESSC Board Member, Nic Novicki. Open to all, the challenge provides a platform for new voices in the entertainment industry.

The 2019 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge will be held the weekend of April 5-7, 2019, and registration is open until Wednesday, April 3.

For the 6th year of the Film Challenge, registered filmmakers – with and without disabilities – are given a span of 55 hours over the designated weekend to write and produce short films (three-to-five minutes) that Help Change the Way We View Disability, which are then judged in four award categories – Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Awareness Campaign – by a noted and diverse group of entertainment industry talent.

Winners are awarded industry mentorships; the opportunity to screen their film at the Los Angeles-based HollyShorts Film Festival (August 8-17), an Academy Award-qualifying competition; as well as cash awards and other desirable prizes. 

Since the challenge launched in 2013, aspiring filmmakers from around the world have created more than 200 films, which have been viewed online and at film festivals around the world.

To register for this 2019 film challenge, visit: disabilityfilmchallenge.com and view last year's winning films below.

Easterseals Disability Film Challenge 2018 Best Film

Carl Hansen | Buddy Comedy  — Check Mate


Best Filmmaker

Day Daniells | Buddy Comedy — Hit On


Best Actor

J.B. Abajian | Buddy Comedy — Visibility


Best Awareness Campaign

David Tenenbaum | Buddy Comedy  — Footloose

The 2018 award recipients received:

  • $1,000 grant provided by Universal Filmed Entertainment Group to be used towards the filmmaker’s next production
  • Dell 2-in-1 Computer
  • Mentor Meeting with Bec Smith – Agent, Motion Picture Literary and UTA Independent Film Group
  • A full, one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud – the entire collection of 20+ creative desktop and mobile apps including Premiere Pro CC, After Effects CC, and Photoshop CC
  • Nike gift bag with assorted products, including a pair of shoes from the new FlyEase line
  • One-year subscription to Variety magazine
  • Inclusion in HollyShorts Film Festival, August 9-18, 2018, Los Angeles, an Academy Award-qualifying competition
  • Inclusion in the 2018 Bentonville Film Festival
  • An invitation to an exclusive roundtable discussion with agents at United Talent Agency prior to the Awards reception on May 10, 2018

Check out all of the 2018 film entries on YouTube or Facebook!



 

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