By: Jessica A. Saio

Starting this month, you can add new movies to your watchlist from a brand-new streaming service. ReelAbilities Stream is launching a new platform for viewers to watch movies and documentaries that celebrate the lives and stories of individuals with disabilities.

The ReelAbilities Film Festival originated in New York in 2007 and was founded by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Since then, the film festival has been held in over 20 cities around the world. Now, ReelAbilities is bringing the film festival to our own homes. The new streaming service is set to include films that have been showcased at the festival, many of which cannot be watched anywhere else.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, streaming television and movies has become the norm for many. Co-founder and director of the film festival, Isaac Zablocki, has noted this opportunity is a way to further the festival’s accessibility to diverse audiences and promote an inclusive experience for viewers.

There will be more than 50 movies initially launching on ReelAbilities Stream and each will have accessible features, including open captions and audio descriptions. Currently, the ReelAbilities website offers movies for individual purchase, but it is expected that the streaming service will have an app for major platforms soon.

Enjoy the movies!