Latest news with #AbilityFoundation
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
AbilityFEST2025 draws to an emotional close with Sitaare Zameen Par
The air buzzed with anticipation, eyes on the entrance, waiting for the stars to arrive. But these are not your typical red carpet regulars – they were the young athletes from Sitare Zameen Par, the breakout hit that's taken the country by storm. Backed by Aamir Khan Productions, the film about neurodivergent children discovering their strength through sport (basketball here) has garnered a lot of love and affection from the audience and critics alike. The film is known to have opened up vital conversations about inclusion and ability, where the young cast now shines as a beacon of resilience and a new kind of heroism. Screened at PVR-INOX Sathyam Cinemas recently, Sitare Zameen Par was the final screening for AbilityFEST2025, presented by Ability Foundation. Present at the screening were the director, RS Prasanna, writer Divy Nidhi Sharma, and co-producer Aparna Purohit. In conversation with the festival chairperson, Revathy, Prasanna spoke about how this film was 'more than a movie,' that it 'goes beyond the constructs of a movie and goes to the heart'. The most poignant moment was when he asked the parents of the stars to stand up, addressing them as the 'real stars.' He spoke about how, because of them, the cast were already primed with talent, and the filmmakers merely 'did our bit, you know, like coaches do.' Adapted from a Spanish movie called Campeones, writer Divy Nidhi spoke of how the team tried to keep the emotional core of the original film intact, but also Indianise it for the audience. 'We are often asked how it was to work with these actors, and I would like to put it on record that this is the most focussed, most disciplined bunch we have ever worked with,' he further added. The event also saw the announcement of the winners of the '60 Seconds to Fame!' All-India one-minute film competition on disability. This year's theme, 'Through Your Lens: A Celebration of Disability Inclusion,' inspired a range of creative responses. The 17 shortlisted films were screened throughout the four-day festival from July 7 to 10. The best film was handed to The Menu by filmmaker Nikita Konari, which showed how braille menus can be introduced to make eateries more accessible.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Three win awards in short film competition at AbilityFEST 2025
The ninth edition of the 'AbilityFEST 2025-India International Disability Film Festival', organised by national cross-disability NGO Ability Foundation, came to an end on Thursday here with Nikita Konari securing the first place in '60 seconds to Fame-All India One Minute Film Competition on Disability' for her film The Menu. This year's theme for the competition was 'Through Your Lens: A Celebration of Disability Inclusion'. Speaking at the event, founder of Ability Foundation Jayshree Raveendran said, 'AbilityFEST2025 has not only screened powerful films, but also amplified the voices of individuals with disabilities, fostering understanding and empathy across communities.' The second place went to Mathan Raj Baskaran for Sail, third place to Geeta Poduval for her film Dance of Inclusivity and a Jury Special Mention to Pradev Kumar for Friendly Family Forever. The competition received entries from all over the country, and the films featured in the festival represented 11 countries. Over four days, the festival screened a number of award-winning short films, documentaries, and features from across the world. Addressing the audience, director of Sitaare Zameen Par R.S. Prasanna said the film's young actors were the most focused and prepared group he had worked with. The writer of the film Sitaare Zameen Par, Divy Nidhi Sharma, the film's actors, actor-director and trustee of Ability Foundation Revathy, co-producer Aparna Purohit, lyricist Madhan Karky, and executive director of the Madras Management Association Vijayakumar took part in the festival.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
AbilityFEST 2025 to conclude on Thursday
The AbilityFEST 2025-India International Disability Film Festival will come to an end on Thursday with the screening of Sitaare Zameen Par. The four-day film festival showcased a number of award-winning short films, documentaries, and features from around the world. AbilityFEST 2025 featured short film, documentaries and feature films from 11 countries by and about people with disabilities. The winners of '60 Seconds to Fame!' an all-India one-minute film competition on disability held by the Ability Foundation will be awarded on Thursday. The one minute film competition aimed to encourage people to think creatively about disability in just one minute. The theme this year was 'Through your lens: A celebration of disability inclusion'. The winning entries from '60 Seconds to Fame! will be screened, followed by a session with festival chairperson Revathy, R.S. Prasanna, director of Sitaare Zameen Par, Divy Nidhi Sharma, writer of Sitaare Zameen Par with the basketball athletes featured in the film. The film festival also featured the screening of the Tamil film Tourist Family with audio description for the blind, alongside Hindi film Ahaan. International titles at the fest include films from Italy, the Netherlands, Mongolia, the U.K., Iran, the U.S., and Poland. On Wednesday, a discussion with Revathy with the director of Ahaan, Nikhil Pherwani was also held.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Ability Foundation to host disability film fest from July 7 to 10
A national cross-disability NGO, Ability Foundation, is set to host its ninth edition 'AbilityFEST 2025-India International Disability Film Festival' from July 7 to 10 at PVR-INOX Sathyam Cinemas in the city. The festival will also screen shortlisted films on disability inclusion from the competition, '60 seconds to Fame-All India One Minute Film Competition on Disability'. Festival chairperson actor-director Revathy said the competition received entries from all over the country, and the films featured in the festival represent 11 countries. 'Our focus is on films made by people with disabilities, about people with disabilities, essentially through the eyes of what the world could be when it is inclusive,' Ms. Revathy said. 'Being a jury member of this film festival, you understand what society is, where we are, where the people are, and what their thought process is,' said composer A.R. Rahman, Chair of the jury. Actor Simran in the jury panel added: 'To express everything in 60 seconds is a difficult job, and all the one-minute films we received were inspiring and motivational to me.' Over the four days, the festival will screen a number of award-winning short films, documentaries, and features from around the world. The Tamil film Tourist Family will be screened with audio description for the blind, alongside Hindi films Ahaan and Sitaare Zameen Par. International titles will include films from Italy, the Netherlands, Mongolia, the U.K., Iran, the U.S., and Poland. 'People with disabilities are not suffering or unfortunate. They are living their lives the way they should be living. AbilityFEST is an important part of what we do to bring this message to the public,' said Jayshree Raveendran, festival director. Lyricist and screenwriter Madhan Karky spoke about how the one-minute short films came with a lot of emotion. Other jury members, international para swimmer Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh, life coach and fitness consultant Tinkesh also spoke. All screenings are free with four shows daily. Registration is mandatory at
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Ability Foundation set to host disability film festival
: A national cross-disability NGO, Ability Foundation, is set to host 'AbilityFEST: India International Disability Film Festival', which will take place in Chennai from July 7 to July 10. The festival mainly features a competition, '60 Seconds to Fame! All India One Minute Film Competition on Disability', that invites all creative filmmakers to make a one-minute film. The theme will be 'Through Your Lens: A Celebration of Disability Inclusion.' A jury of esteemed filmmakers will review the entries, and the best three films will be the winners. The shortlisted films will also be screened during the festival. For queries and more information, visit or call 9840055848.
