Bhubaneswar: With an aim to create awareness for integration of PwDs with mainstream, the State government has decided to conduct first National level Short Film Festival on Disability Issues here in the month of January next year.
The Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department has decided to organize such an innovative festival in the State in line with the short road safety festival, officials said.
According to the plan, the SSEPD Department would invite film creators and producers to screen their short films on disability issues and the top three films will be awarded at a special event to be organized here in the second fortnight of January, 2025.
Five short films will be shortlisted by a panel of jury members and the films will be screened at Bhubaneswar, Puri, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur in presence of about 250 to 300 disabled children.
The jury will consist of at least one expert in the film of direction, sound designing, editing, cinematography and content writing along with an expert in disability sector or a Psychologist
Prior to holding the festival, the Department will hold a launching ceremony in Bhubaneswar for announcement of the film festival and release of teaser/short video in presence of Principal Secretary, SSEPD, Bishnupada Sethi and other officials in presence of notable persons from disability sector, social activist and film industry.
To encourage youths in participating in the festival, the Department has also planned to put up posters, pamphlets in colleges and universities across the State and email intimation will be sent to all film making colleges in India campaign, the officials said.
Promotion through media coverage, making print media partner, TV media partner and Radio chocolates etc would be done for coverage of the event towards wide publication, they said.