14th Annual Film Pittsburgh ReelAbilities Film Festival Kicks Off (Thurs., 9/3/26)

September 2, 2026/Rick Handler

Still from 'Diego,' a short from the Meritzer Award Night lineup. — Still from ‘Diego,’ a short from the Meritzer Award Night lineup.

The region’s only film festival that demonstrates the creativity and lives of those living with disabilities, ReelAbilities Pittsburgh is now in it’s 14th year. The Festival will run September 3-13 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and online. ReelAbilities Pittsburgh kicks off with its Meritzer Award Night and the only in-person screening of the festival. Opening night will feature 7 short films featuring people with diverse abilities in the grand PNC Theater.

“Before the films, the 8th annual Meritzer Award will be presented to Tina Calabro, a writer, speaker, and founding member of the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium. ReelAbilities Pittsburgh will also host an artist market in the Pittsburgh Playhouse lobby featuring works by artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities from Creative Citizen Studios and Studio Forget-Me-Not.

Virtually, patrons can stream 3 feature documentaries, 3 feature narratives, and 7 additional short films. The feature-length films include Silent Notes starring Daniel Durant from Coda, The Paper Bag Plan, which took home best feature awards at multiple festivals, and the locally-made Becoming Benjamin Lay by legendary Braddock documentarian Tony Buba and historian Marcus Rediker,” According to the ReelAbilities Film Festival information. See the festival’s website for films and more information. 7 p.m. Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse. 350 Forbes Ave., Downtown.