Global film festival with a difference - 30 documentaries on disability to be screened on February 21-22

A contest coupon of the film festival. Telegraph picture

Book your seat at the convocation hall of Ranchi University in Morabadi to catch 30 awe-inspiring documentaries on disability to be screened at the two-day We Care Film Festival on February 21 and 22.

The 11th edition of the travelling film festival will feature award-winning documentaries from India and abroad like Israel, Iran, Philippines, Canada, USA, France, Germany, China, Mauritius, Dubai, Indonesia, Jakarta on disability issues.

Organised by Delhi-based NGO Brotherhood along with founder partners National Trust, Information Centre and Unesco, officials of Ranchi-based Centre for Global Development and Cognitive Therapy Clinic are offering logistical help here.

NGO Brotherhood has a collection of more than 500 short films and documentaries. Of these, the NGO members and Ranchi clinic officials have chosen 30 to be screened at Ranchi University. The documentaries have been categorised into four groups —one minute, five minutes, 30 minutes and 60 minutes.

“Through this festival we highlight issues of disability, bust misconceptions and promote inclusive approach towards the differently-abled,” said founder director of the international film fest Satish Kapoor, adding that their aim was to spread awareness through cinema.

The festival also upholds the rights of disabled persons as mentioned in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that came into effect on May 3, 2008, in addition to the Persons with Disability Act and the National Trust Act.

Director of the clinic and local co-ordinator Raj Kishore Ram said, “As part of the forthcoming film fest, we are planning to organise road shows on rights of persons with disabilities on February 20 and host fashion shows and dance competition where differently-abled people will participate the next day.”

The film festival is being organised at various venues across the globe. “Ranchi is the 107th venue. We have already hosted this festival in Indonesia, Mauritius, Dubai and Paris. After Ranchi, we will travel to Noida and Coimbatore,” said Kapoor. Although the organisers usually host this festival in educational institutions, they also screen the documentaries at hospitals and corporate houses.