Easterseals & Film Independent Announce the Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards (The DARCYS)

Easterseals Disability Services and Film Independent are proud to announce a new chapter of disability representation in entertainment with the launch of the Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards (The DARCYS).

Stories That Shift Culture & Perception

The Easterseals-Film Independent collaboration reimagines the Media Access Awards (MAA), of which Easterseals has been a presenting sponsor. Founded in 1979 by Norman Lear, the MMAs have long recognized artists, creators and industry leaders who have advanced authentic portrayals of disability and expanded opportunities for disabled talent across entertainment.

This newly envisioned awards show builds on this groundbreaking legacy while introducing a modern identity, expanded mission and broader cultural reach—reflecting the growing momentum around inclusion, accessibility and representation in global media while calling attention to the work yet to be done.

The Inaugural Ceremony

The inaugural DARCYS ceremony will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, at the historic Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. The ceremony will convene leaders from across entertainment, advocacy and media for an afternoon celebrating the most impactful work of the year. The awards will broadcast live on YouTube and air at a later date on PBS.

Submissions:

• Open Tuesday, June 16
• Close Tuesday, July 14

Where Vision Meets Action

A Disability Advisory Committee brought together by Easterseals includes a talented group of disabled individuals who work in the industry and are integral to this evolution. Led by co-chairs Emily Ladau and Nicole Lynn Evans, other members include Jamie Brewer, Christine Bruno, Lawrence Carter-Long, Ashley Eakin, Danny J. Gomez, CJ Jones, Danny Kurtzman, Jim LeBrecht, Lachi, Sue Ann Pien and Lolo Spencer.

Said Ladau and Evans, “Inclusion must be a movement, not a moment. The inaugural DARCYS will be a joyful celebration of the disability community’s contributions to the media landscape and a bold call to action for a true disability representation revolution.”

Commented Mark Whitley, President & CEO of Easterseals Southern California, “The Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards are about more than recognition—they’re about redefining what inclusion looks like in entertainment. By celebrating and honoring authentic voices and experiences, we’re helping set a new industry standard where disability representation is not the exception, but an essential part of great storytelling.”

Added Shawn Davis, Executive Producer, Film Independent Spirit Awards and The DARCYS, “For over four decades, Film Independent has championed a culture of inclusion in storytelling. Partnering with Easterseals Disability Services on the Easterseals Disability Arts & Culture Awards is a natural reflection of this mission—amplifying authentic representation and ensuring that diverse voices shape the narratives of not only our industry, but the world, too. Together, we’re not just celebrating great storytelling; we’re redefining who gets to tell those stories and how they are told.”

The Selection Process

The awards celebrate storytellers and changemakers who are reshaping narratives, eliminating stereotypes and setting a new standard for disability inclusion across the entertainment industry.

Eligibility includes specific requirements ensuring that the disability inclusion is substantive, sustained, and integral to the work being recognized. Accessibility, including captioning and audio description, will be a key component of the submission and review process.

The DARCYS will celebrate excellence across a wide range of categories, including:

• Best Feature
• Best Documentary
• Best Performance in a Feature
• Best Scripted Series
• Best Unscripted Series
• Best Performer in a Series
• Best Social Creator
• Achievement in Casting Ensemble
• The Legacy Award
• The Christopher Reeve Emerging Talent Award

Nominees will be determined by industry committees composed of filmmakers, critics, past MMA honorees and industry guild and nonprofit organization representatives. The DARCYS are committed to meaningful representation within this process, with a majority of committee members being individuals with disabilities.

Learn More

For more information, visit The DARCY Awards

Follow us on @DARCYAwards on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X