The 2026 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge returns on January 24th to celebrate 13 years of advocating for disability inclusion in the entertainment industry. This year’s competition was launched by challenge founder and director Nick Nowicki at the Sundance Film Festival and will run from March 24th to 29th, with the awards ceremony taking place on May 7th at Sony Pictures Studios.
In this challenge, filmmakers have five days to write and produce a 1-5 minute short film that promotes disability inclusion based on the year’s hot genres. The genre in 2026 will be “Dramady”. Submitted films will be judged in six award categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenwriter, Best Editor, and Best Awareness Campaign. Winners will receive a number of prizes to help them achieve their career goals, including a $2,000 cash prize, a Dell Technologies computer, and mentorship meetings.
“Disability inclusion should not be an afterthought,” Nowicki said. “True progress in the entertainment industry means ensuring people with disabilities are included in the conversation at every level. The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge exists to do just that. Continued industry support Because of our work, we elevate new voices, bring great talent to the world, provide year-round learning opportunities, and help filmmakers around the world find meaningful success on both sides of the camera. We’re proud to serve as a trusted resource for Hollywood.”
Nowicki, an actor, comedian, producer, and disability advocate, started the challenge in 2013 in response to the underrepresentation of talent with disabilities. Since the challenge’s inception, more than 850 short films have been created and submitted from nearly every state and around the world.
Click here for rules, regulations and how to register.
Friday, January 23rd
Coalition of Women Directors Selects Emerging Director Fellows
The Alliance of Women Directors has announced its 2026 class of Rising Director Fellows. The six directors are Erin Michelle Williams (The Umbrella Academy, Harlem), Alexandra Hsu (Sophie, The Way Home), and Anne-Marie Pace (Fangs, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), Marcela Ochoa (Hour of Blood, My Name is Maria de Jesus), and Taylor Lee Nagel (Lady Liberty, If You Can Ever). Tijuana Ricks (“All Souls,” “The Corpse”).
These up-and-coming filmmakers participate in a one-year program during which they refine their feature scripts, complete pitch decks, and shoot proofs of concept. The 2026 Fellowship concludes with a private industry review that showcases Fellows’ work for agents, executives, and producers.
“The Rising Director Fellowship is designed to meet directors at pivotal moments in their careers, when talent is undeniable but access and opportunity are still out of reach,” said AWD Executive Director Kylie Eaton. “This year’s Fellows bring bold perspectives, emotional depth, and clear command of their stories. We are proud to support them as they take this important step from successful short films to feature film production and share their voices with the entire industry.”
Academy Museum celebrates Oscar season with programs through March 22
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is celebrating Oscar season with a public program running through March 22, ahead of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 15.
This season includes screenings of Oscar-winning films, spotlights on nominees, in-gallery tours, exclusive merchandise, and an official Oscar Watch Party. Visitors can also see updates to the museum’s galleries, including an Oscar-themed montage in the Spielberg Gallery (January 14 – March 25) and a new rotation of iconic red carpet fashion starting February 14 in the Academy Awards History Gallery. Highlights include Elizabeth Taylor’s 1970 dress, Paul Reubens’ 1987 tuxedo, and Sharon Stone’s 1996. ensemble.
On March 1, the museum will unveil “19 Branches of the Academy.” This gallery focuses on the structures and careers that shape the film industry, featuring behind-the-scenes images and text from members of all branches of the Academy.
The Museum Store is expanding its collection of exclusive Oscar merchandise for the 98th annual awards, including “Thank You Academy” sweatshirts, trucker hats, notecards, stickers and more.
Oscar Sunday will feature free screenings of films recognized for their sound design, mixing and editing, including It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963), The Towering Inferno (1974), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990) and The Sound of Metal (2020).
From February 21st to March 14th, guests can take the Oscar Gallery Tour and participate in the nominations program in categories such as Animated Short, Animated Feature, Documentary Short, Live-Action Short, International Feature, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Picture. Select programs will also feature items from nominees on display in the Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby.
The 5th annual Official Oscar Watch Party will be held on Sunday, March 15th from 3pm to 8pm. Guests will enjoy photo ops in the Walt Disney Company Piazza, access to the Museum Store, hors d’oeuvres, wines from Clarendale and Domaine Clarence Dillon, and live viewing of the Oscars broadcast in the David Geffen Theater. Ticket prices range from $100 to $125.
Following the ceremony, screenings of this year’s winning films will be held from March 19th to 22nd at the David Geffen Theater. Fanny’s Restaurant & Cafe will be offering cocktail menus inspired by Best Picture nominees until March 31st.
General admission to the museum is $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (62 and older), and $15 for students (18 and older). Admission is free for members, children 17 and under, and California EBT cardholders. Tickets for the film screening and nominations program are $5 to $10.
For more information and the full schedule, please visit the Academy Museum website.
Wednesday, January 21st
Chicago’s Doc10 Film Festival Expands to 10 Days to Celebrate 11th Anniversary
Chicago Media Project announced that the Doc10 Film Festival will celebrate its 11th anniversary and expand to 10 days from April 24th to May 3rd.
Originally started as a five-day event, the festival has grown into one of the nation’s premier showcases of carefully selected nonfiction films. Over the past decade, the Chicago-based documentary film festival has distinguished itself through its commitment to socially impactful storytelling.
This year’s festival kicks off April 24 with “Speak Truth,” a new program designed to advance Doc10’s mission to foster meaningful conversation, community engagement, and civic engagement through documentary film. This initiative aims to create a dialogue between filmmakers and audiences about pressing social issues.
Following the opening of “Speak Truth,” Doc10’s premiere weekend will screen ten of the year’s most notable documentaries, continuing the festival’s tradition of bringing important nonfiction works to Chicago audiences.
The festival is sponsored by the Chicago Media Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting documentary films that promote social change. CMP positions Doc10 as a destination for both filmmakers and audiences seeking documentary work that combines artistic excellence and social relevance.
Additional program details and the full festival lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.
Ang Lee wins ACE Filmmaker Award
Director Ang Lee will receive the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker Award at the 76th Annual ACE Eddie Awards on February 27th at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
The two-time Oscar winner joins previous winners such as Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. American Cinema Editors announced the honor on Tuesday.
“Ang Lee’s exploration of our most intimate emotions has ignited an international passion for film for more than 30 years,” said ACE President Sabrina Prisco. She cited his work on “Brokeback Mountain,” “Life of Pi,” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” as examples of his range of work.
Lee won Academy Awards for directing Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi. His filmography ranges from intimate dramas to grand spectacles, including “The Wedding Banquet,” “Sense and Sensibility,” “The Ice Storm,” and “Gemini Man.”
At the ceremony, YouTube creator and gaming team managing director Kim Larson will be presented with the ACE Visionary Award. This recognition celebrates YouTube’s impact on digital storytelling and creator empowerment.
The Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Arthur Forney, who oversaw post-production on Dick Wolf’s series such as “Law & Order” for more than 30 years, and Robert Leighton, who edited 15 films with Rob Reiner, including “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Few Good Men.”
Winners in 14 competitive categories recognizing film and television editing will be announced during the ceremony. Nominations will be announced on January 27th.
Monday, January 19th
Subject Matter, an organization that provides funding and resources to nonprofit organizations and documentary films focused on pressing social issues, will award $120,000 in grants at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Winners include Sharon Riese’s investigative thriller “Seized,” the nonprofit Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Dawn Porter’s “When A Witness Recants,” and the nonprofit Gideon’s Promise, which each received $30,000.
“Seized” focuses on a troubling police raid in Kansas that quickly becomes a national story. The film, told through police body cameras and surveillance footage, will premiere at the Ray Theater on January 25th and will be available to watch online at the Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 29th to February 29th. 1. Matching nonprofit grants will be donated to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. The commission provides free legal representation, assistance, and other legal resources to protect the rights of journalists across the country.
“When a Witness recants” investigates the wrongful imprisonment of three innocent teenagers who were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, until the truth finally comes out 36 years later. The film will premiere at the Library Center Theater on January 27th. The matching grant will go to Gideon’s Promise, a nonprofit organization that aims to transform the criminal legal system by building a movement of public defenders who provide equal justice to marginalized communities.
Subject Matter will also host a public panel discussion at Box at the Ray on January 26th at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, a conversation that will explore “what happens when the systems designed to protect us, such as local police, courts, and laws, are used to silence the truth, and how audiences can take positive community action in response to the film.” The conversation will be moderated by Fabio Bertoni, General Counsel of The New Yorker. Subject Matter will add $100 to each audience member’s donation made to any nonprofit grant organization during Sundance, up to a total of $5,000.
