Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: The State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, in association with the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa, Cultural House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and We Care Festival proudly presented the Indo-Iranian Film Festival on Disability Issues.
The second day of the festival was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, at Sankhali. The event was graced by the presence of Premendra Shet, MLA, Mayem Constituency; Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Varsha Naik, Director of DEPWD, Satish Kapoor, Founding President of We Care Film Festival and Mahanand Satarkar, a filmmaker from Goa. The dignitaries highlighted the significance of the festival in promoting inclusivity and awareness through the medium of film.
Chief Minister Of Goa , Dr. Pramod Sawant expressed, “The Indo-Iran Film Festival not only showcases outstanding cinema but also highlights the resilience and stories of individuals with disabilities, promoting empathy and understanding in our society. As we immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of films presented here, let us reflect on how cinema can inspire us to break barriers and foster a more inclusive community. Let us continue to support initiatives that celebrate diversity and empower persons with disabilities.”
The State Minister of Social Welfare of Goa, Subhash Phaldessai emphasised the importance of such initiatives, he stated “Persons with disabilities deserve the right to equality, right to education, and all the rights that normal persons get. In whatever way we could assist them, we should; they should live a dignified life, and there should be no differentiation. Don’t just help them for the time being, but take that as your responsibility. These kinds of film festival initiatives are to create awareness. The teachers who have brought their students here, the students will have the impact of the films on their minds for a long, long time. And the students should consider themselves lucky and fortunate that they have witnessed this at this age. You will be ambassadors and pillars in the future.”
The festival commenced on June 26th in Panjim, continued today, June 27th, in Sankhali, and will conclude tomorrow, June 28th, in Margao. The theme of the Purple Fest 2024 was also played during the inaugural. Additionally, one of the films from the list, “Fish and Eye,” was also played during the inaugural in the presence of the dignitaries, followed by an interactive session with the students about the messages and learnings they gained from the movie.
The state Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa Guruprasad Pawaskar added, “The movie screenings are done to ensure that proper sensitisation is there across the state. We have to create that kind of inclusive environment to ensure that persons and students with disabilities have equal opportunities and should not be treated unequally, they are one of us and we should be proud of that.”
The festival featured wide-ranging mix of films that highlight the challenges and triumphs of individuals with disabilities. Among the notable screenings were “The Fish” by Babak, “The Feet in the Sand,” “Son of Sun” by Rad Pourjabbar, “I’m Enough” by Rachna Prasad, “Fayaz,” “I’m a Man” by Amin Ali Shahsavari, “I Won’t Remain” by Yaser Talebi, “The Silent Epidemic” by Akshat Gupta, “The Raid” by Pooria Soleimani, and “Saksham Lok” by Ayush Nagpal. These films collectively narrated stories of resilience, creativity, and the human spirit.
This film festival, emphasises resilience and creativity of those living with disabilities and aims to foster greater understanding and empathy within our society.
