State Govt to Host National Short Film Festival & Competition
Bhubaneswar, – In alignment with Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to live with dignity, the Odisha State Government is taking a significant step toward promoting awareness and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
To highlight their challenges, encourage their participation in various sectors, and advocate for their rights and welfare, the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department has announced a National Short Film Festival and Competition titled “Samarthya.”
A press conference was held on Saturday, at a hotel in Bhubaneswar, where key government officials and event organizers discussed the festival’s objectives and impact.
Notable attendees included Niyati Pattnaik (Departmental Director), Jayashree Tripathy (Departmental Financial Adviser-cum- Spl. Secretary), Deepak Rautaray (Additional Secretary), Sannyasi Kumar Behera (Deputy Secretary), Sonia Behera (Additional Secretary), Dignitaries from Odia Film Industry including Sabyasachi Mahapatra ( Director), Sritam Das ( Actor), Pinki Pradhan (Actress), Harihar Mahapatra (Actor) Archita Sahu ( Actress) and others.
The event will be promoted through a dedicated website and various media platforms to ensure maximum outreach and participation.
This initiative by the Odisha Government aims to empower and uplift persons with disabilities by using cinema as a powerful medium for storytelling, advocacy, and awareness said Niyati Pattnaik director of ssepd.
For more details, participants and filmmakers can visit the official event website or contact the organizers.
The festival is being organized by SSEPD department in association with RR Events & Cine Production. Several national-level directors will be the part of the jury.
Film Submissions will start from February 17 and will end on March 10, 2025 after which Jury will watch the movies from : March 13 – March 16, 2025. The short Films Duration should be 2 to 5 minutes long
The Grand Award Ceremony will be held on March 19, 2025. The award ceremony will be a grand event featuring prominent Bollywood and Ollywood celebrities.
The State Government has announced a total prize fund of ₹10 lakh, which will be distributed among winners in various categories to recognize excellence in filmmaking and storytelling.