ABOUT US
The ReelAbilities Film Festival: Los Angeles is a two-day festival dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. We showcase new and classic films, conversations, and programs that explore, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.
OUR MISSION
The film festival embodies the essence of inclusivity. Each film is meticulously presented with audio descriptions and closed captioning, ensuring accessibility for all attendees. Our commitment to collaboration extends to the public, irrespective of ability, as we work together to cultivate a profound appreciation for high-quality films that cater to diverse audiences.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Alisa Schlesinger is a founding member of ReelAbilities Film Festival Los Angeles. She serves as a Commissioner on the City of Los Angeles Commission of Disabilities. She has been an advocate for people with disabilities for over twenty-five years and is committed to expanding visibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in the entertainment industry.
Jennifer Schlesinger is a founding member of ReelAbilities Los Angeles. She is the Associate VP at Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, a local non-profit committed to helping families affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Stephen David Simon is Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability, working to ensure that all City programs, services, activities, and facilities are accessible to all Angelenos. He previously served as the City’s AIDS Coordinator, responsible for development, implementation and oversight of the City’s HIV/AIDS policies and programs. He received his Juris Doctorate and Bachelors degrees at UCLA.
Ali Everett, J.D., M.P.A, is the Assistant General Manager for the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability. She has worked and volunteered in accessibility for over 25 years and worn many different hats and has a lot of experience that continue to inform her work. She has her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, has her M.P.A from Syracuse University, and has her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. Prior to joining the Department on Disability, she was the Accessibility Coordinator for City of Pasadena, where she worked on citywide compliance and inclusion initiatives to create a more inclusive community.
Danny Woodburn is a 30 year veteran actor (as seen in Seinfeld and Watchmen) and disability rights activist whose work has led to increased representation, understanding, appreciation, and opportunities for Performers with Disability (PWDs). He has had a role in every change occurring today for PWDs in Hollywood, and has worked to open doors for PWDs at 20th Century Fox, CBS, NBC, HBO, and other studios.
Over the last 13 years of her career in entertainment, Elizabeth Fish has worked on various indie films as a producer, director, sound editor & mixer, camera operator as well as a production assistant & SAG background actor on various TV shows. She had the honor of producing and directing 4 short documentaries for Joni & Friends in 2015 for their world conference. Currently a Coordinator at Disney Television Studios for 20th Television. She is a leader on the Disability ERG for DGE as well as their Creative Pipeline team for disability and a member of 20th TV’s Action Group where she spearheaded a panel discussion on disability in front of and behind the camera.
