FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
“Under the Sun, Moon, & Stars: Accessible North Alabama with Wonders Within Reach” Wins Third Place at the First-Ever TravelAbility Film Festival
Decatur, Ala. (November 18, 2025) – The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) ), the official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, is proud to announce that Under the Sun, Moon, & Stars: Accessible North Alabama with Wonders Within Reach has been awarded third place in the Destination Marketing Organizations category at the inaugural TravelAbility Film Festival, held in conjunction with the 2025 TravelAbility Summit held last month in Sunriver, Oregon.
The TravelAbility Film Festival celebrates stories that inspire and promote inclusive and accessible travel experiences. This inaugural edition drew 52 entries across three categories, Attractions/Hotels/Restaurants, Content Creators, and Destination Marketing Organizations, from India, Ireland, England, Scotland, Lithuania, South Africa, Canada and the United States. A team of screeners reviewed all submissions and advanced 16 finalists to a distinguished jury.
Jake Steinman, Founder and CEO of TravelAbility highlighted the importance of the event, “Communication about accessibility to create empathy is all about storytelling and these are examples of excellent storytelling that create empathy, understanding, and connection, taking mindsets from awareness to action.”
Produced by Bethany Collins, directed by Phil Woodal, and videography by Jonathan Powell and Adam Vaden with The Library Of, Under the Sun, Moon, & Stars: Accessible North Alabama with Wonders Within Reach showcases North Alabama’s natural beauty, attractions and adventures that are accessible-friendly. The film invites travelers to explore the region’s wonders “under the sun, moon, and stars” while emphasizing accessibility and inclusion.
“We’re honored to receive this recognition and thrilled that our story of accessible travel in North Alabama resonated with audiences around the world,” said AMLA President/CEO Tami Reist. “This film reflects our ongoing commitment to making the North Alabama experience welcoming and inclusive for travelers with disabilities.”
Entries were reviewed by an esteemed jury of industry leaders, including:
Jule Sisk, Founder, The American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival
Josh Loebner, Global Head of Inclusive Design, VML
Taylor Miller, Founder, Slamdance Film Festival
Monika Skerbelis, Director, Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival
Jennifer Casey, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Gray Television
Throughout the TravelAbility Summit, finalist films were featured between major sessions, giving attendees the opportunity to experience the power of inclusive storytelling. The festival concluded with an awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 14, where Jennifer Allen accepted the award on behalf of AMLA and Wonders Within Reach.
TravelAbility will feature all finalist and winning films on its YouTube channel and website, and the winners will also be announced in its November newsletter, Each winning film will be spotlighted in the coming months across TravelAbility’s social media channels (https://www.facebook.com/TravelAbility.net, https://www.instagram.com/travelabilitysummit/).
The complete list of winners:
Attractions / Hotels / Restaurants Category
1st Place: Ximuwu (pronounced “Shimuwu”): The First Truly Accessible Safari Lodge
2nd Place: WetWheels: Barrier-Free Boating for Everyone
3rd Place: KultureCity: It’s More Than Just a Bag
Content Creators Category
1st Place: Share the Adventure — Amar Latif, Traveleyes
2nd Place: THIS is Yuma — Downs and Towns
3rd Place: Overcoming Barriers: India and Beyond — Jacqueline Victor
Destination Marketing Organizations Category
1st Place: Alberta Adapts — Travel Alberta
2nd Place: Sound Sites — Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
3rd Place: Under the Sun, Moon, & Stars — Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
Grand Prize (Most Overall Jury Points):
The People’s Coast: Accessible, Inclusive Travel on the Oregon Coast — Oregon Coast Visitors Association
For more information about accessible-friendly travel in North Alabama, visit www.accessiblenorthal.com or follow @VisitNorthAL on social media.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
