Overview

• The 2025 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge concluded with a gala at Sony Pictures Studios, where winners were announced on May 8.
• Shane Hillier's thriller 'Everhand' won both Best Film and Best Director, highlighting the event's thriller and suspense theme.
• This year’s competition received 123 submissions worldwide, requiring at least one person with a disability to participate in each project.
• Winners received $2,000 cash prizes, $5,000 Adobe development grants, and mentorship opportunities with leading industry executives.
• Easterseals, alongside sponsors like Netflix, Disney, and Adobe, continues to address the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in film, where only 1.9% of speaking roles in major films feature disabled characters.