India International disability film festival begins

Chennai, Oct 7 (UNI) The second India International Disability Film Festival titled 'Ability Fest 2007' began here yesterday as part of a three-day celebration of celluloid with screening of more than 25 International and Indian movies.

Ability Foundation, a national cross-disability organisation striving for the rights and social inclusion of disabled people, intends to sensitise people to disability even further and break stereotypes associated with disability.

Introducing for the first time in the city, the concept of 'Audio description' in a film festival -- to assist the visually impaired to 'watch' each and every frame being shown on screen -- a soft voice will describe the visual setting on the sceeen.

Celebrated filmmakers Govind Nihalani, Dev Benegal, Nafisa Ali, Ravi K Chandran and Prakash Raj along with two leaders of disability sector Salil Chaturvedi and Neenu Kewlani are the jury members of the competition section of 'Ability Fest 2007' -- '60 seconds to fame'-- for adjudging the winners who will take home Rs 2.25 lakh.

UNI