“Don’t Forget to Dance,” “The Ticket” and extra have been among the many winners of the 2026 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. The winners have been introduced Thursday evening at an awards ceremony at Sony Footage Studios.
For the 2026 problem, the featured style was Dramedy, and the problem obtained a report 144 submissions this yr. The Movie Problem was held in March, throughout which registered filmmakers are given a span of 5 days over the designated timeframe to jot down and produce quick movies, all of which promote incapacity inclusion in entrance of and behind the digital camera.
“It was a magical night that once again put a spotlight on authentic storytelling and disability inclusion in Hollywood,” stated actor, comic, producer and incapacity advocate Nic Novicki in a press release. Novicki is somewhat one who is the founder and director of the problem and a board member of Easterseals Southern California.
“True progress in the entertainment industry means ensuring that people with disabilities are part of the conversation at every level,” he added. “The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge exists to do exactly that. Thanks to sustained industry support, we have been able to elevate new voices, launch remarkable talent, offer year-round learning opportunities and help filmmakers from around the world achieve meaningful success on both sides of the camera. We’re proud to serve as a trusted resource for Hollywood.”
Devoted to advocating for genuine storytelling and casting within the leisure {industry}, winners of the problem obtain entry to industry-focused sources with the purpose of serving to them obtain their targets. This features a $2,000 money prize award for winners, Dell Applied sciences computer systems, one-year IMDbPro premium membership, one-year membership to Movie Impartial offered by the Golden Globe Basis, screenings at Academy Award-qualifying festivals and mentorship conferences with leisure {industry} executives and expertise.
The problem is made doable by help from: Amazon MGM Studios, Comcast NBCUniversal, Dell Applied sciences, Golden Globe Basis, IMDbPro, Intel, Microsoft, Netflix, Paramount, SAG-AFTRA, Sony Footage Leisure, The Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery.
See the total record of 2026 Easterseals Incapacity Movie Problem winners under.
Finest Movie introduced by Sony Footage:
“Don’t Forget to Dance,” Tim Bartow
Finest Director introduced by NBCUniversal:
“The Ticket,” Jayla Hodge, Jaylin Hodge & Jerah Milligan
Finest Actor introduced by IMDbPro:
“Neighborhood Watch,” Vincent Rutley
Finest Author introduced by Netflix:
“Crip Club,” Aya Obeid and Shan Hafez
Finest Editor introduced by Paramount:
“The Ticket,” Tony Pape
Finest Consciousness introduced by Amazon MGM Studios:
“Back to the Dark Ages,” Anna Pakman
