National Film Festival ‘Samarthya 2026’ Celebrates Disability, Talent and Achievement
Bhubaneswar, September 5: The Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department of the Odisha Government organised the national short film festival ‘Samarthya 2026’ at the MMIT Auditorium here on Saturday, bringing together filmmakers, artists, officials and social workers to celebrate the talent, resilience and achievements of persons with disabilities through cinema.
Unlike earlier editions that largely focused on creating awareness about disability, this year’s festival shifted the narrative towards confidence, achievement and the positive contributions of persons with disabilities to society. Through a series of impactful short films, the festival sought to challenge stereotypes and highlight stories of individuals overcoming barriers and pursuing their dreams.
The festival received 62 entries from across the country, including 20 national-level and 42 regional films. Following a two-stage evaluation conducted by RR Events and Cine Production, 38 films were shortlisted for the final screening.
Keeping the narratives concise and impactful, each participating film was restricted to a maximum duration of five minutes. The festival also placed emphasis on accessibility, with films incorporating audio description and sign language to make the screenings inclusive for audiences with visual and hearing impairments.
Veteran cinematographer Jugal Debata headed the jury, which included Tripura Mishra and disability rights activist Jitendra Biswal. The jury selected the winners in various categories.
National Category
‘Tune of Life’ and ‘Medal’ jointly won the Best Film award. ‘Tune of Life’ also secured awards for Best Director, Best Actor for Sahu Jaysinghrao Sabekar, and Best Prop Use.
‘A Little Big Dream’ received the Best Film (Panel Expert Committee) and Best Cinematography awards, while ‘Plea’ won Best Story/Screenplay and Best Actress for Atreyee Banerjee.
Odia Category
In the Odia category, ‘Antardrashti’ and ‘Leak’ jointly won the Best Film award. ‘Leak’ also swept several honours, winning Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Actor for Bikram Keshari Mohanty and Best Actress for Deepika Tripathi.
‘Antahswara’ received the Special Awareness Award, while ‘Chandrarohana’ and ‘The Wheel’ were honoured by the Panel Expert Committee.
The event was attended by Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, SSEPD Special Secretary Rajani Jani, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Bratati Harichandan and Financial Advisor Jayashree Tripathi.
Festival Brand Ambassador and actress Sheetal Patra, along with senior SSEPD officials and students from various educational institutions, also attended the event and extended their support to the participating filmmakers and artists.
The festival served as a platform not only to recognise creative excellence but also to promote a more inclusive representation of disability in cinema and society.