Bhubaneswar: An awareness drive is necessary to change public perception about issues
related to disability and films are one of the most effective tools for doing that, said quadriplegic actor Jitendra Biswal at the Seventh We Care Film Festival held at the Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
He was nominated as the Chairman of We Care Film Festival, Odisha Chapter on the occasion. The event was jointly organised by Aaina and Brotherhood. Abhishek Swain’s ‘Blind’ and Ritwik Das’s ‘Inside Me’ won the Best Film award in the one minute and five minutes category respectively. There were some really well-made films on disability issues,
said Biswal, who has successfully portrayed the emotions and desires of a quadriplegic in ‘Two Desires And A Dream’.
“Both at home and outside, a disabled person has to face some basic challenges. While home is all about getting trained and willing caretakers, the challenge outside is having a barrier-free access. Cinema can change public perception towards disability,” said Biswal.
We Care Film Festival in collaboration with United Nations, conducts film festivals in different state capitals of India. National and international films made exclusively on disability issues are screened and awarded as part of the festival. The festival will be held
for the first time in Dubai in April this year.