02-07-2025
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
