The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, officially announces the shortlisted entries to the ‘First International Film Festival for the Persons with Disability (IFFPD), 2015’, at an interactive press conference, at the PIB Hall, Shastri Bhavan. This is for the first time that the department, along with, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), is presenting this unique three-day film festival for persons with disabilities, at Siri Fort, New Delhi, from December 1 to 3 .
The DEPwD, was carved out of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to ensure greater focus on policy matters to effectively address disability issues and to act as a nodal department for greater coordination among stakeholders, organisations, State Governments and related Central ministries. The IFFPD 2015 is another milestone for the department in their goal of achieving inclusivity and empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The film festival is a combined outcome of the tireless efforts of the Department and NFDC and the overwhelming response in terms of Festival entries has only strengthened the resolve of Department to hold further annual editions in the future. Speaking on the occasion of the release of the official IFFPD 2015 shortlist, lov Verma, secretary, DEPwD, briefed the mediapersons about how the festival was conceptualised by the department to honour the contributions of the persons with disabilities on the occasion of International day of Persons with Disabilities — which is commemorated worldwide on December 3. He dedicated this film festival, in recognition of the spirit of the persons with disabilities and the festival will show case cinemas that open our world to their mind space, and sensitive on issue relating to disabilities.
The secretary also briefed that IFFPD won’t be just another film festival as the department will also be conducting different workshops on day two of the Festival. The theme for workshops will include children’s workshop, workshop on film directing and screen writing et al.
A total of 40 films (16 short, 14 documentaries and 10 feature films) have been selected for screening during film festival by an accomplished panel of curators.