5th Annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Awards Ceremony, LA

@DisabilityChall

Affair: 5th Annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Awards Ceremony

When: Thursday, May 10, 2018 @ 6PM

Hot Spot: United Talent Agency, 9336 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills, CA

Deets: Winners of the fifth annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge will be announced at a red-carpet event, film screening and awards ceremony hosted by leading global talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency (UTA). Prior to the event, UTA will convene nominated casts and crews for a private mentorship and information panel, featuring agents from across the agency’s practice areas.

The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge gives filmmakers — with and without disabilities — the opportunity to collaborate to tell unique stories that showcase disability in its many forms. Held April 13-15, filmmakers were given a span of 55 hours to write and produce a short film (three-to-five minutes) using this year’s theme, “buddy comedy.” Films must include a person with a disability either in front of or behind the camera and are judged by a panel of noted and diverse entertainment industry professionals. Top prizes include mentorships with industry leaders; cash grants; film festival screening opportunities; and other awards.

One-in-five Americans is living with a disability, making it today’s largest minority population, yet far too often their important and varied stories go untold. Per the GLAAD report “Where We Are on TV,” 1.7% of TV roles feature a character with a disability … and of those roles, more than 95% of the characters are portrayed by actors without a disability (Ruderman Family Foundation). Of the top 900 films since 2007, just 2.7% of characters were portrayed as having a disability, according to the USC Annenberg report, “Inequality in 900 Popular Films.”

Who You May Spot: Special guests for the evening include Marcia Gay Harden, RJ Mitte and Danny Woodburn, as well as Easterseals Disability Film Challenge finalists, selected from among a record-setting number of submissions, spanning 12 countries. Emceeing the event is Film Challenge founder, actor/comedian Nic Novicki (Boardwalk Empire, Gotham Comedy Live), a little person who has successfully navigated the challenges of being a person with a disability in Hollywood.

Hint For The Average Socialite: This is strictly invite only.

What's Trending: @DisabilityChall @EastersealSocal @unitedtalent #InspireChange!