Filmfest to create awareness on disability issues in Delhi Dec 3

New Delhi, Oct 10: A film festival seeking to spread awareness about disability issues as also dispel misconceptions, prejudices and stereotype about it will be held in the capital in December.

Close on the heels of the huge success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Black', which has demonstrated the power of films in spreading public awareness about disability issues, stereotype and misconceptions and also making the mentally and physically challenged people aware of their rights and vast opportunities, two NGOs of Delhi -- Tamana Welfare Society and Brotherhood are organising a 'We Care' filmfest in the capital from December 3 to 6.

Films (both Hindi and regional language) and documentaries focussing on issues concerning the disabled people will be screened during the festival, the first endeavour of its kind in the country.

''Though the world over such festivals has been held before in various countries, creating awareness on disability issues through the medium of films is a new concept to India. While there are more than 25,000 foreign films and documentaries on disability issues available to the audience through proper channel and distribution network, it is pity that in India, there about 40 films (both Hindi and regional language) and about 50 documentaries which are hardly available to the target audience,''the director of the festival Satish Kapoor told UNI here.

''Research shows that in most countries, the majority of children with disabilities do not know any disabled adults and, consequently, many have a difficult time in imagining their future. Audio-visual medium can provide opportunities for them to observe disabled adults undertaking a wide variety of activities, in effect, introducing them to positive role models.

The aim of such film festival is to break down the myths, misconceptions, prejudices and stereotype about disability by using the medium of film,'' Mr Kapoor said.

Renowned filmmaker Govind Nihalani will head the jury consisting of Prof P K Nair, Prof M M Alex, actor Nandita Das and many other well-known celebrities from Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata. ''The success of 'Black' has shown that films can be a powerful medium for educating the people about disability issues, stereotype and misconceptions and also for creating awareness which can give equal rights and opportunities to mentally and physically challenged people. The name of the film festival 'WE CARE filmfest sums up the spirit of this endeavour. This festival should not be looked as an event but as a movement,'' Nihalani said.

Chairperson of the film festival and President of Tamana Welfare Society Shayama Chona said the aim of the film festival was to focus on issues concerning mentally challenged and create awareness about disabilities and the disabled people and make masses aware about the different activities which can help them to make their future bright.

She said award winning films would be taken to schools and colleges to educate the students who are the future managers of the country.

Supporting the film festival by proving technical support will be Asia Academy of Film and Television headed by Mr Sandeep Marwah.

''The punch line 'WE CARE filmfest' itself propagates that there is a section of people in the society who care about persons who have been ignored by the same society. We will like to go international with all the entries through our online portal,'' he said.

Entries have been invited for the festival from all over India in two categories - upto 1 minute and upto 5 minutes.

The last Date of receiving the entries is October 30. Film maker and Students with and without disability of Institutes of Mass Communication, Journalism and film making can participate in the above film festival.

The best three films screened at the festival will get special prizes, instituted by the National Trust working for the welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (Statutory body of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment).

The best film will get a prize of Rs 50,000 while the first runner up will get Rs 30,000 and the second runner up Rs 20,000.

UNI