Calling all disabled filmmakers and talent: You will have the chance to vie for over $150,000 in grants in the 2024 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge from April 2-7. Over the course of five days, participants from all over the world will write, shoot and edit a short film based on this year’s genre, “Buddy Comedy.” Submitted films are judged in six award categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Writer, Best Editor and Best Awareness Campaign. In addition to the grant money, winners will receive a $2,000 cash prize, mentorship meetings with industry executives, Dell Technologies computers, and more.

Stand-up comedian and actor Nic Novicki created the film challenge 11 years ago in response to the media’s under-representation of talent with disabilities, both in front of and behind the camera. “I’ve had to write the roles I’ve wanted to play and produce my own content, and that has led to other opportunities,” says Novicki, who is a little person.

Since the film challenge launched in 2013, more than 600 short films have been submitted, and participants — like Danielle Perez, who voices Sun-Spider in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — have gone on to roles in popular TV shows and movies. “Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the writers and producers of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, who are Oscar winners, found Danielle through the challenge,” says Novicki, who voices LEGO Spider-Man in the movie. “The industry is looking at our films and [the Casting Society] shares all the films with casting directors around the world, as well as the studios and networks.”

Registration for the 2024 Easterseals Film Challenge is now open and more info is available at DisabilityFilmChallenge.com.