Easterseals Disability Film Challenge

Our 13th annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge has been a record-breaking year of submissions! Learn more at

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

The 2026 EDFC Awareness Campaign has officially begun! We had a record-breaking 144 films submitted! Support all these awesome #dramedy films by watching, liking, sharing, and commenting. You can view all the films on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Congrats to all our amazing filmmakers!

ID: montage of images from the 2026 dramedy film submissions.

#EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #eastersealssocal

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

We had a great time at the 2026 EDFC Winner and Finalists screening at the amazing Newport Beach Film Festival. We got to hear from the festival’s co-founder and CEO Gregg Schwenk about film distribution, had a Q&A with EDFC filmmakers, and watched the films. Congrats to the filmmakers and thanks to NBFF for hosting us!

ID: people with and without disabilities pose for a group photo at the theater and @nicnovicki holds up a certificate from @newportbeachfilmfest

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Let’s give a huge congratulations to EDFC alumni Jennifer Msumba for winning THREE awards at the 2026 Heartland Film Festival for her film The Fish Don’t Care When It Rains. Jennifer worked hard on this incredible film that began as a short for the film challenge and turned it in to a feature during her time in our Adobe alumni grant program. She’s now the recipient of Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature, Documentary Audience Award and the Richard Propes Award from the Heartland Film Festival. We’re so proud of Jennifer and for the world to see this very important and powerful film.

ID:
Heartland Film Festival logo and THE FISH DON’T CARE WHEN IT RAINS winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature.

Heartland Film Festival logo and THE FISH DON’T CARE WHEN IT RAINS winner of the Documentary Audience Award.

Heartland Film Festival logo and THE FISH DON’T CARE WHEN IT RAINS winner of the Richard Propes Award.

Jennifer Msumba poses on the red carpet with festival runners and filmmakers at the Heartland Film Festival.

@jennifermsumba @fishdontcarefilm @heartlandfilm #EDFCalumni #successstories

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Filmmaker Stephanie Castelete-Tyrrell talks about her participation working on the Best Awareness nominated film INTERUPPTIONS and that the EDFC is accessible to disabled filmmakers around the world. ID: Stephanie sits in her wheelchair in a pink sweater facing the camera as B-Roll images from her film and the awards show are interspersed throughout. #EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Founder and Director of the EDFC Nic Novicki shares his excitement for a record-breaking year of 144 film submissions and the anticipation of announcing the winners at the 13th annual awards ceremony from @sonypictures .

ID: @nicnovicki a little person in a black suit, gets interviewed at the awards show. B-Roll images from the awards show are interspersed throughout.

#EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Actor Marissa Bode (WICKED) and Best Actor nominee for the film DEAD WIFE MONTAGE loves that the Film Challenge gives disabled filmmakers the confirmation of knowing “that we are talented and we do belong in the entertainment industry.”

ID: @marissa_edob sits facing the camera in a light pink shirt and black headphones. B-Roll images from her film and the awards show are interspersed throughout.

#EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities contribute to workplaces and the economy. We're so proud of all our Film Challenge participants who are getting jobs in the entertainment industry and making a difference. Check out our 2026 awards show recap and watch the full show on our YouTube channel which highlights some of the best disabled filmmakers in the industry !

ID: recap video of clips from our awards show held at @sonypicturesstudios
#disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #DisabilityFilm #DisabilityStories #filmmakers #DisabilityRepresentation

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

We’re thrilled to announce that our 2026 winners and finalists will be screened at this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival on Monday, October 19 at 4:00pm. Tickets are available on the @newportbeachfilmfest website. We look forward to seeing you in Newport Beach where we get to reunite there since our 2026 finalist announcement!

ID: Newport Beach Film Festival above a photo of a group of people with and without disabilities at the Lido theater under a marquee that reads “EDFC 2026, FINALIST ANNOUNCEMENT, NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL” the date October 19 @ 4pm overlays the image.
#edfc2026 #newportbeachfilmfestival #disabillityfilmchallenge #eastersealssocal

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Neurodivergent actor Ana Sharp is starring in the feature Rise And Shine alongside Rachel Bay Jones and Danny Burstein. The cast features a number of disabled actors in pivotal roles including Jordan Walker Ross, Analesa Fisher, and Jordan Nichole Wall. Rise And Shine will screen in AMC Theatres nationwide during National Disability Employment Awareness Month and will be available to stream on Angel soon after.

https://t.co/LsnHjUuAdC

ID: Stills from the film including…

1.Poster art from Rise and Shine film with a young girl with a backpack and her mother two embracing in a doorway to a colorful school theme environment.
2. A young woman talking to a man at a school.
3. Girl dancing with another at a school dance.
4. Close up of Ana sharp wearing glasses.
5. Three girls posing together in prom dresses.

#edfcalumni #disabilityrepresentation #disabilityinfilm #riseandshinefilm

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Congratulations to EDFC alumni Jennifer Msumba! Her film The Fish Don’t Care When It Rains which won our 2020 Best Film Award has been turned into a feature documentary! She used the Adobe EDFC Grant along with additional grants to complete a feature documentary, which will have its WORLD premiere during the Heartland Film Festival! We can’t wait for the world to see this incredibly impactful and important film!

ID: 35th @heartlandfilm October 8-18 above movie poster of @fishdontcarefilm featuring @jennifermsumba looking off into the distance.

#edfc2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #filmmaking #autism

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Actor Kiersten Kelly (Jurassic Word: Chaos Theory) talks about her experience participating in the film VIVIAN PROBZ and the positive environment of the awards ceremony

ID: @kierstenkelly stands in a black dress while getting interviewed at the awards show. B-Roll images from her film and the awards show are interspersed throughout.

#EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

We’re excited for our 2026 winners and finalists to be screened at this year’s #oscar qualifying Heartland Film Festival on Sunday, October 12 at 7:00pm. Tickets are available on the @heartlandfilm website. Looking forward to seeing you in Indianapolis!

ID: image of @heartlandfilm festival logo above a spotlight of Easterseals Disability Film Competition with the date and time

#edfc #heartlandfilmfestival #disabillityfilmchallenge #eastersealssocal

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Congratulations to Vincent Rutley and Chrissy Marshall, two EDFC winners who were selected from thousands of applicants into the highly competitive Sony Pictures Television Elevate program! Vincent did a fantastic acting job in his role last night and Chrissy was chosen to direct his scene which was screened for an audience of industry executives. We are so proud of our alumni and grateful to our partners at @sonypictures who push for disability representation within the entertainment industry.

ID: 1. @chrissymarshall_ @vincentrutley @nicnovicki smile at the camera in front of the Sony Pictures logo at the Elevate Program showcase.

@vincentrutley sits in his wheelchair on stage as he gets interviewed at the Elevate Program showcase.

3. @david.radcliff @thetalanderson @chrissymarshall_ @nicnovicki smile together at the camera in front of the ELEVATE Sony program sign.

#disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #DisabilityFilm #DisabilityStories #DisabilityInclusion

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Actor Jo-Marie Lawrence from the Best Film nominee ZIPTIED shares why she participated in the film challenge for a 3rd time and how her community has grown from the experience.

ID: @jomarielawrence sits in her wheelchair in a blue floral dress as she gets interviewed at the awards show. B-Roll images from her film and the awards show are interspersed throughout.

#EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Filmmaker Juan Arce from the Best Director and Best Awareness nominated film THE SHOOT was excited to make his film to spotlight actors with disabilities and to bring more awareness about the community to Mexico.

ID: Juan sits in a gray shirt facing the camera. B-Roll images from his film and the awards show are interspersed throughout. #EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

We had a great time in Toronto at the St. Regis hotel where EDFC Participants in the area and cast and producers from BEING HEUMANN got to meet up and discuss the Film Challenge. Old friends got to catch up and new friends were made. We’re so grateful for the disability community and how connections are made all over the world.

ID: Group of people with and without disabilities gather in the lounge at the St. Regis.

#disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #DisabilityFilm #DisabilityStories #DisabilityInclusion

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

BEING HEUMANN starring @ruthmadeley as Judy Heumann premieres TONIGHT as the opening film of the @tiff_net !!! This film has so many talented disabled actors involved including film challenge participants and our director and founder @nicnovicki . The film is directed by Oscar winner @sianheder.director and scheduled for a Nov 13th release on @appletv and select theaters on November 6. Definitely go check out this film about Judy Heumann and how she led a movement of disability revolution in America.

ID: Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann, looks at a crosswalk sign change from Don’t Walk to Walk. Title card: Apple Original Films. Judy introduces herself as she calls multiple politicians. Title card: FROM SIÂN HEDER. A politician played by Mark Ruffalo exclaims, “They’re not asking for a place on a bus…” Title card: DIRECTOR OF ACADEMY AWARD WINNING BEST PICTURE CODA. The politician continues, “...they’re asking for a whole new bus!” Judy tells people to move as she and her allies occupy a federal building. Title cards: OPENING NIGHT TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL and BASED ON A TRUE STORY but “story” is crossed out and replaced with “revolution.” Judy tells fellow disabled activists that they are not the problem, the stairs are the problem. Judy flips off a bus that honks at her in the street. Title cards: BEING HEUMANN, SCREENPLAY BY SIÂN HEDER & REBEKAH TAUSSIG, DIRECTED BY SIÂN HEDER, IN SELECT THEATERS NOV 6 STREAMING NOV 13 and the colorful Apple TV logo.

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

EDFC participant Jorge Urey joined us on the carpet and talks about why he thinks the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge is important.

ID: @jorgeurey stands in a blue and white shirt as he gets interviewed at the awards show. B-Roll images from the awards show are interspersed throughout.

#EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Marisa Hamamoto from the Best Editor nominated film BEFORE I DIE talks about the importance of “being able to showcase disability as something beautiful...”

ID: @marisahamamoto stands in a bright pink suit as she gets interviewed at the awards show.
B-Roll images from her film and the awards show are interspersed throughout. #EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

The film Where Did the Adults Go? @wdtagfilm is now Now streaming on Apple, Amazon & Kinema. Congrats to EDFC participant Carey Leigh Cox @careyleighcox for her lead role and everyone who contributed to disability representation in making this film! Support by watching and sharing!

Video: Carey, a woman with long red hair wearing jacket and pants sits in her wheelchair while pulling out pages from an open book on her lap.

#WDTAG #CareyCox #disabilityrepresentation

[Easterseals Disability Film Challenge @DisabilityChall]

Jamie Nieto, 2x Olympian and actor, joined us on the carpet and talks about his first time attending the EDFC awards show!

ID: @jamienieto sits in his wheelchair wearing a gray suit as he gets interviewed at the awards show. B-Roll images from the awards show are interspersed throughout.

#EDFCAwards #EDFC2026 #disabilityfilmchallenge #easterseals #awardshow