Attend this film fest: Reelabilities: Boston Disabilities Film Festival @ West Newton Cinema

Though Hollywood occasionally dramatizes the plight of the disabled and mentally ill - as in this year's highly touted films The Sessions and Silver Linings Playbook  - it's not a subject they're very comfortable with. For a more enlightening look at how those faced by various mental and physical challenges cope and prevail, don't miss this series of nine films that runs through February 5. It starts Thursday with Adam Elliot's animated Mary and Max (2009), in which Philip Seymour Hoffman voices the latter character, a Jewish man from New York with Asperger's Syndrome, who pursues a pen pal relationship with Mary (Toni Collette), an unhappy eight-year-old living in Australia.

West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington St, West Newton :: Thursday, January 31 @ 7 pm :: $10 :: 617.964.8074 or westnewtoncinema.com