LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Easterseals Southern California, a leading disability services organization, announced registration is now open for its annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, the entertainment industry’s premiere disability inclusion competition. Interested filmmakers and participants can register at DisabilityFilmChallenge.com now through April 3, 2019, when registration will close at 6 p.m. PST.
“The entertainment industry is notoriously difficult to break into, regardless of your ability. And, as a person with a disability, I know the odds are stacked against people with disabilities to build careers in entertainment,” says Nic Novicki, actor and founder, Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. “I set out to change this, giving filmmakers and actors tangible work experiences and a chance to tell more diverse and varied stories that better represent the real world. Through the Challenge, and thanks to Easterseals’ year-round efforts to expand the diversity conversation, disability is gaining represention in front of and behind the camera.”
The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, now in its sixth year, gives filmmakers the opportunity to collaborate and tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms. The film competition is open to anyone, with or without disabilities, and will take place over the weekend of April 5-7. Participants will have 55 hours to write, shoot and edit a three-to-five minute short film based on an assigned genre. While the filmmakers are not necessarily required to include disability in the storyline, each team must include at least one person with a disability in front of or behind the camera.
“Because we rarely see characters with disabilities in storylines, it’s easier for society to stereotype and marginalize,” said Mark Whitley, CEO, Easterseals Southern California. “Hollywood is galvanizing around the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge to embrace disability inclusion and better reflect the nation’s largest minority population, 61 million strong. Together we can shift perceptions, tackle stigmas and advance social change. And, while we’re beginning to see bright spots and progress, we still have work to do.”
The genre, locations and themes for the 2019 Challenge will be released April 3 at 6 p.m. PST, with props released April 5 at 11:01 a.m. PST. Submitted films are judged in four award categories – Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Awareness Campaign – and judged by a diverse group of entertainment industry professionals. Since the Challenge launched, filmmakers from around the world have created more than 200 films that have been viewed online and at festivals such as the HollyShorts Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival and Bentonville Film Festival.
Key Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Dates:
- 2019 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge – April 5-7, 2019
- Finalists Announced – Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the Newport Beach Film Festival
- Red Carpet Award Ceremony – Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Sony Pictures Studios (Invitation Only)
The 2019 Judges include RJ Mitte, actor (“Breaking Bad”); Kat Coiro, writer/director (“Modern Family,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Shameless,” “The Mick”); Kevin Jordan, award-winning writer/director; Danny Woodburn, veteran actor, (“Seinfeld,” “Watchmen” and the “Ninja Turles”); among others. This year’s mentors include Pam Dixon, Casting Director (“Green Lantern,” “The Mask of Zorro”); and Tiffany Smith-Anoa’I, Executive Vice President, Entertainment Diversity, Inclusion & Communications at CBS Entertainment with additional mentors to be announced. To highlight the caliber of mentors who have been involved, last year’s Easterseals Disability Film Challenge mentors also included: Amy Brenneman, actor (“The Leftovers,” “Private Practice,” and “Judging Amy”); Scott Silveri, executive producer and writer (“Speechless,” “Friends”); Peter Farrelly, producer (“Green Book,” “Loudermilk,” “Dumb and Dumber,” “Something About Mary”); and Bec Smith, Agent, United Talent Agency’s Motion Picture Literary and Independent Film Group.
Since the Challenge launched in 2013, there have been several success stories resulting from support received as a part of the Challenge. Jamie Brewer, who won Best Actor in the 2017 Challenge for Whitney’s Wedding, has been acclaimed for her role on “American Horror Story,” and was the first model with Down Syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week. Dickie Hearts, the Challenge’s Best Filmmaker winner in 2015, went on to win a HBO Project Greenlight digital series competition. Jenna Kanell, winner of Best Film in 2015, went on to give a TEDx Talk about her experience. Sofiya Cheyenne was cast in “Loudermilk” after writer-director Peter Farrelly saw her 2018 Challenge entry, “You’re Up.”
Sponsors and partners for this year’s Challenge include: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Deadline Hollywood, SAG-AFTRA, CBS Entertainment Diversity & Inclusion, Dell, Adobe, Film Independent, Heartland Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, Universal Pictures, Variety and the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Sony Pictures Entertainment, as the official Red Carpet Sponsor, will host the Awards Ceremony. Based on the category, winners have the opportunity to receive the latest in computer technology from Dell, the opportunity to screen their film at the HollyShorts Film Festival, mentorship opportunities and cash prizes.
Registration for the 2019 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge is now open. To sign-up, view the official rules, or for more information, please visit DisabilityFilmChallenge.com.
ABOUT THE EASTERSEALS DISABILITY FILM CHALLENGE
As someone with a disability, actor, comedian and producer Nic Novicki launched the Disability Film Challenge in 2013 in response to the under-representation of talent with disabilities both in front of and behind the camera. Novicki created the challenge to give aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work and provide them with meaningful exposure. In 2017, Novicki joined forces with Easterseals Southern California – the nation’s leading nonprofit supporting people and families with disabilities – to expand the event, now known as the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. Learn more at www.DisabilityFilmChallenge.com and join the conversation at Facebook.com/DisabilityFilmChallenge.
ABOUT EASTERSEALS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
For 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals with developmental disabilities or other special needs and their families. The services provided by Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) – in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties – make profound and positive differences in people's lives every day, helping them address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals so that they can live, learn, work and play in our communities. With 2,800+ employees, 60+ service sites and hundreds of community partnership locations, ESSC assists more than 13,000 people, providing adult/senior day services; autism therapy; child development/early education; employment services, veteran employment support; independent living options; and more. At Easterseals, 88% of our income is spent on services. Join us in changing the way the world defines and views disabilities at easterseals.com/southerncal and www.wecelebrate.org.
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Melissa England
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A video accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/176cf86c-0f54-487e-a474-1784c4f2a727