Film fest on disability showcased in Delhi

NEW DELHI - A range of inspiring films on various forms of disability and how people battled them to lead a fulfilling life were showcased at a two-day festival that ended in the capital Friday.

The films, which revolved around issues like Down’s Syndrome, leprosy, visual and hearing impairment and other forms of disability, were of varied durations. Some were as short as 30 seconds while others were nearly an hour long.

One of the films “More than walking” is the story of Jonathan Sigworth, an American national who fell from a cliff in northern India when he was 19 and woke up in the hospital the next day to be told that he may never walk again.

Although he lost his ability to move his limbs partially, Sigworth made a film with the message that those who suffer the same fate should not lose hope. The film was showcased Thursday.

‘Delicate Patterns’, another film, revolves around the issue of cerebral palsy.

The festival with 32 films, called ‘We Care’, is travelling to 18 places in India with Delhi being the eighth venue. It has been co-organised by an NGO, Brotherhood, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), among others.