The Media Access Awards have announced the list of winners for the November 17 virtual event.
Organized by Millicent Simonds and presented in partnership with Easterseals, the ceremony celebrates “those individuals, series and films that have redefined the on-screen representation of the disability community, while advancing the representation and employment of people with disabilities. at Hollywood”. Winners are selected by professional guild diversity committees with awards from the Casting Society of America, Producers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America.
For the first time, IMDbPro will present an Excellence in Directing Award this year with John Krasinski for his commitment to being included in his latest film. A Quiet Place Part II from Paramount Pictures. Simmonds, a star of the film, will present. Selma Blair, at the center of the new Discovery+ documentary Introducing Selma Blair on her journey with multiple sclerosis, will be honored with a visionary award, presented by activist and creator of #DisabledAndCute Keah Brown.
Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, starring this year Coda, will receive a lifetime achievement award from Shoshanna Stern. His co-star in the Apple TV+ movie, Troy Kotsur, will also be honored with an award from SAG-AFTRA for his work with Eternals star Lauren Ridloff on board to present. And finally, the film’s casting team will also be honored for their work with Deborah Aquila, Lisa Zagoria and Tricia Wood confirmed to receive the CSA award from director Sian Heder.
SAG-AFTRA is also a partner of another award, the Disability Awareness Award, and it will go to Zeno Mountain Farm. It will be presented by Jamie Brewer and Zack Gottsagen. The PGA’s George Sunga Award will go to Lucas producer Andrea Warren presented by one of the stars of the animated film, Jacob Tremblay. The WGA’s Evan Somers Memorial Award will go to Special creator and star Ryan O’Connell. The show’s executive producer, Jim Parsons, will present.
In a special award, Olympian Jamie Nieto has been selected to receive an acting Christopher Reeve Scholarship, to be presented by Michael Patrick Thornton. In addition to the awards presentation, the program also includes a performance by Rex & Friends, a group of autistic and blind musicians and singers led by Rex Lewis-Clark, as well as Kinetic Light Company, which creates and performs at the intersections of disability , dance and run.
Of the full lineup, Mark Whitley, CEO of Easterseals Southern California, said, “The presenters and winners of this year’s Media Access Awards are examples of how the industry continues to move forward to increase the representation and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The Media Access Awards are sponsored by platinum sponsors IMDbPro and Friends producer Kevin Bright; gold sponsors ViacomCBS, Comcast and NBCUniversal; and silver sponsors Bunim/Murray, Sony Pictures, The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Legendary Film and Disney General Entertainment Services. The show is produced by Deborah Calla and written by Allen Rucker.
More information can be found here.
