Panaji (Goa) [India], June 26: 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, presented the Indo-Iranian Film Festival on Disability Issues.
The event, held at Maquinez Place and aimed at raising awareness and promoting inclusivity, was inaugurated by the Guest of Honour, Shri Subhash Phaldessai, Hon'ble Minister for Social Welfare, and E Vallavan, Secretary, IAS, Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Shri Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Varsha Naik, Director of DEPWD, Satish Kapoor, Founding President of We Care Film Festival, and Mohammad Reza Fazel, Director of the Cultural House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, were also present.
State Minister of Social Welfare of Goa, Shri Subhash Phaldessai, highlighted the significance of such initiatives, stating, "Persons with disabilities deserve equality, the right to education, and all other fundamental rights. They should be able to live dignified lives without discrimination. Film festivals like this one aim to raise awareness and foster understanding. The teachers who have brought their students here are contributing to a lasting impact on young minds. These students are fortunate to experience this at an early age and will become ambassadors and pillars for future advocacy."
Emphasizing the importance of such initiatives, the State Minister of Social Welfare of Goa, Subhash Phaldessai, said, "Persons with disabilities deserve the right to equality, the right to education, and all the rights that everyone gets. We should assist them in any way we can so they can live dignified lives without discrimination. These kinds of film festival initiatives are meant to create awareness. The teachers who have brought their students here have made a lasting impact on their minds. The students should consider themselves lucky and fortunate to witness this at such an age. They will be ambassadors and pillars for future advocacy."
The movie screenings will also take place in Sankhali on June 27th and in Margao on June 28th. 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 played during the inaugural in the presence of the dignitaries, followed by an interactive session with the students about the messages and lessons they gained from the movie.
The festival featured a 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 emphasizes the resilience and creativity of those living with disabilities and aims to foster greater understanding and empathy within our society.
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