2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Launches at Sundance

Author: Easterseals Disability Services
Published: 2025/01/29
Publication Type: Announcement
Topic: Photo and Film Casting - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: The 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge opens Jan. 25, with the competition to be held April 1-6. The awards ceremony to be held May 8 at Sony Pictures Studios.

Why it matters: This report on the 12th annual Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC) is insightful as it highlights the initiative's role in promoting disability inclusion in Hollywood. Launched by Nic Novicki at the Sundance Film Festival, the 2025 challenge under the "Thriller & Suspense" genre not only fosters creativity but also provides significant opportunities for filmmakers with disabilities through cash prizes, mentorships, and substantial grants for project development. It addresses the stark underrepresentation of disabled characters and creators in mainstream media, offering a platform for diverse storytelling and career advancement in an industry where only 1.9% of major film characters have disabilities. This initiative is particularly beneficial for people with disabilities, seniors, or those interested in media diversity, by not only showcasing talent but also by actively working towards systemic change and inclusion in entertainment - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

The 12th annual Film Challenge was once again officially launched during this year's Sundance Film Festival by actor, comedian, producer and disability advocate Nic Novicki, a board member of Easterseals Southern California and founder and director of the Film Challenge. Novicki announced the 2025 competition's genre of "Thriller & Suspense" during the panel Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion, presented by Easterseals Disability Services.

Main Item

Celebrating 12 years of leadership advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, the 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge (EDFC) opens Jan. 25, with the competition to be held April 1-6. The awards ceremony will be held May 8 at Sony Pictures Studios.

Once again this year - in addition to the traditional Film Challenge awards of cash, goods, subscriptions, mentorships and screening opportunities - the EDFC will be awarding seed fund/film finishing grants. Made possible by a grant provided by Adobe, as part of the Adobe Film & TV Fund, the EDFC grants are presented for use in further developing the awardee’s submitted short film and/or to accelerate the development of their projects into feature films or episodic series.

Five 2025 Film Challenge winners - in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, Best Writer, Best Actor and Best Editor - will automatically receive a $5,000 grant. Additionally, five grants of $25,000 will also be made available to all past EDFC participants who may submit their previous Film Challenge submissions for consideration by a review committee, with winners announced at this year’s EDFC awards ceremony. The grant will also fund EDFC workshops and other activities throughout the year.

The 12th annual Film Challenge was once again officially launched during this year’s Sundance Film Festival by actor, comedian, producer and disability advocate Nic Novicki, a board member of Easterseals Southern California and founder and director of the Film Challenge. Novicki announced the 2025 competition’s genre of "Thriller & Suspense" during the panel Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion, presented by Easterseals Disability Services.

Since the Film Challenge was launched in 2013, aspiring filmmakers have created and submitted more than 750 short films (a record 135 last year) from nearly every state and from around the globe, including submissions from Austria, Bolivia, Canada, England, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Singapore, Timor-Leste and The Netherlands.

According to the CDC, 25% of U.S. residents, more than 70 million people, have a disability, making it today’s largest minority population. Yet, according to a study released last summer by USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the number of speaking characters with a disability in a major film was just 1.9% in 2022. GLAAD also published a report in 2022 which found that only 2.8% of series regulars on primetime broadcast TV (22 of 775) were characters with disabilities. And per the most-recent Ruderman Family Foundation study, about 95% of characters with disabilities in Hollywood’s top films and TV shows are played by able-bodied actors.

This data is further supported by a new multi-media report, Reimagining Hollywood: A New Lens on Disability Inclusion, just released during this year’s Sundance Film Festival by Easterseals Disability Services.

"Disability continues to be frequently overlooked in discussions," said Novicki, who recently voiced Lego Spider-Man in Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation’s award-winning film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. "As the entertainment industry continues to strive to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace, we must continue to keep disability in the conversation. We are honored to be a resource to Hollywood for talent with disabilities and appreciate the industry’s long-standing support of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. That support has enabled us to be able to showcase outstanding new talent and provide educational workshops throughout the year. These opportunities have led participants from across the country and around the world to prominent success in front of and behind the camera."

Previous Film Challenge winners and participants have gone on to land roles or direct segments of such popular films and TV shows as The Accountant 2, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseNew Amsterdam, Superstore, The Good Doctor, Loudermilk, DahmerThe Handmaid’s TaleMarry Me, Moxie, SpecialGood TroubleCurb Your EnthusiasmOne Day at a TimeDollface, So Help Me ToddNCIS: OriginsNCIS: Hawai’iNCIS: New OrleansDragons: The Nine RealmsPupstructionNot Quite NarwhalInterview With the VampireBest Foot Forward, As We See ItGrowing Up and Lucky Hank, among others.

Additionally, Challenge films have gone on to win awards at an array of other film festivals; participants have earned accolades and grants from prestigious organizations around the world (including admission to the Sony Pictures Television Diverse Directors Program and being presented the AT&T Underrepresented Award), given Ted Talks; and lectured about the experience at Harvard.

During the Film Challenge, registered filmmakers are given a span of five days over the designated timeframe to write and produce short films (one-to-five minutes), based on the year’s announced genre, which promote disability inclusion. Submitted films are judged in six award categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Writer, Best Editor and Best Awareness Campaign.

Winners receive invaluable access to entertainment leaders and resources, opening the door to an industry notoriously difficult to enter, as well receive as a variety of prizes to help them achieve their career goals, including:

The 2025 Film Challenge will be judged by a diverse group of influential entertainment industry talent, including: Nicole Castro, Managing Director, Hollyshorts Film Festival; director Kat Coiro (She HulkDead to MeMarry Me); Jerome Core, head of Inclusive Content for Amazon MGM Studios & Prime Video; director and activist Jenni Gold (CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion); Tim Gray, Executive Vice President of the Golden Globes; Stacey Wilson Hunt, Contributing Editor, The Hollywood Reporter; Andraéa LaVant, disability inclusion expert and founder of LaVant Consulting; filmmaker and activist Jim LeBrecht (Crip CrampBattlefield EarthPitch Black); model/actress Jillian Mercado (The L Word: Generation Q); IMDb Founder & Executive Chair Col Needham; three-time Emmy nominated journalist Allison Norlian; actor Mark Povinelli, President, Little People of America; journalist Richard Propes, The Independent Critic; journalist Cara Reedy (CNN, NPR, The Guardian); Gil Robertson, President, African-American Film Critics Association; actor, dancer and Deaf advocate Shaheem Sanchez (Sound of Metal); journalist Lindzi Scharf (Los Angeles TimesEntertainment WeeklyWWD); producer and entertainment executive  Annalisa Shoemaker; Film Independent Nominations Director Jennifer Wilson; actor and comedian Danny Woodburn (Mirror MirrorJingle All the WaySeinfeld); and others to be announced.

The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge is made possible by the generosity of its supporters: Adobe, Amazon MGM Studios, Dell Technologies, Golden Globe Foundation, IMDbPro, Intel Corporation, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios.

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.

Easterseals Southern California

Easterseals Southern California is leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access through life-changing disability and community services. Easterseals Southern California provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to more than 19,000 people each year - from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, daily and independent living services for adults, employment programs and more. Their public education, policy and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans with disabilities today.

For rules, regulations and to register: DisabilityFilmChallenge.com

Questions? Email: Info@DisabilityFilmChallenge.com

Editorial Insights, Analysis, and Developments

The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge stands as a beacon of hope and action in an industry often criticized for its lack of diversity. By providing a platform where disabled filmmakers can thrive, this initiative not only celebrates talent but also pushes the narrative towards a more inclusive Hollywood. The grants, mentorships, and exposure offered here are not just career boosts; they are steps towards normalizing disability in media, where stories of all kinds can be told authentically. Yet, the journey isn't complete. As we celebrate the strides made, we must also recognize that the fight for equitable representation continues. The entertainment industry is encouraged to look beyond tokenism, embracing this challenge as a model for systemic change, ensuring that the screen reflects the diverse world we live in - Disabled World (DW).

Attribution/Source(s):
This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Easterseals Disability Services, and published on 2025/01/29, the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Easterseals Disability Services can be contacted at easterseals.com. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

Explore Similar Topics

- The 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge opens Jan. 25, with the competition to be held April 1-6. The awards ceremony to be held May 8 at Sony Pictures Studios.

- Explore the state of disability inclusion in Hollywood with this report from Easterseals, advocating for authentic representation and systemic change across the entertainment industry.

Citing Information and Page References

Disabled World (DW) is a comprehensive online resource providing information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): Easterseals Disability Services. (2025, January 29). 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Launches at Sundance. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 9, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/communication/casting/sundance-2025.php

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