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My husband, who is a Bollywood (movies from Bombay) fanatic, sent me the
following.  Too bad it isn't in my or your city, but at least it is
happening.    Ceil Wirth


India's first disability film fest begins
source: IndiaGlitz
Thursday, July 07, 2005


India's first festival of films made by, for and about people with
disability began here Thursday, focusing on inspiring stories of people
overcoming trials and fighting discrimination.

Ability Fest 2005, which is on till July 11, is the first international
disability film festival in India and has been organized by the
Chennai-based NGO, the Ability Foundation.

"The festival is a unique and inspiring showcase of extraordinary films from
around the world," said Ability Fest chairperson Jayshree Raveendran,
founder and executive director of Ability Foundation.

Raveendran and other organizers said such film festivals are an effective
way of raising awareness about disability issues and tearing down
stereotypes about people with disabilities.

International disability film festivals are organized regularly around the
world and have been very successful in the US, Britain, Melbourne, Paris,
Berlin, Moscow, Calgary, Toronto and Beirut.

Among the Indian films being shown in the festival - "Black", "Koshish",
"Khamoshi" and "Sparsh". A total of 29 films from all over the world will be
screened at Anand Theatre in the heart of the city.

Fifty-three one-minute films shortlisted for the '60 Seconds To Fame'
contest will also be shown. "There were 378 entries for the '60 seconds to
fame' contest," said Raveendran.

The celebrities involved in the festival are director Adoor Gopalakrishnan,
actress Jaya Bachchan, director Mani Ratnam and actress Nandita Das.