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🌟 Ability FEST 2025: Redefining Inclusion Through Film & Festival

From July 7–10, 2025, Chennai's PVR‑INOX Sathyam Cinemas hosted Ability FEST 2025, India’s premier disability-inclusive film festival organized by the Ability Foundation. The ninth edition spotlighted stories that break barriers, shift mindsets, and redefine cinema’s role in society. reddit.com+13varnam.my+13cinemaexpress.com+13

🎥 Theme & Film Competition

  • The festival rolled out its pan-India “60 Seconds to Fame” competition, challenging filmmakers to craft 1-minute films centered on “Through your lens: A celebration of disability inclusion.” The aim: insightful, impactful stories promoting empathy and societal acceptance. varnam.my+3abilityfoundation.org+3abilityfoundation.org+3

  • Submissions required English captions and audio descriptions, ensuring universal accessibility for all audiences. abilityfoundation.org+1cinemaexpress.com+1

🌐 Jury of Changemakers

  • The jury featured legendary composer A.R. Rahman, actor Simran, lyricist Madhan Karky, para-swimmer Mohammed Shams Aalam Shaikh, and amputee fitness expert Tinkesh Kaushik. Their diverse experiences underscore the festival’s commitment to authentic representation. varnam.my+1cinemaexpress.com+1

  • Rahman observed:

    “In a way, we are all disabled… we aren’t able to control anger, so we are disabled.” varnam.my+1cinemaexpress.com+1

✅ Accessibility & Outreach

  • Every screening was fully accessible—featuring subtitles, audio descriptions, barrier-free venues, and interactive sessions—reinforcing that cinema can and should be inclusive. reddit.com+3varnam.my+3cinemaexpress.com+3

  • Festival Chairperson Revathy emphasized its aim: not trigger sympathy, but spark advocacy and dialogue. cinemaexpress.com+1varnam.my+1

🌍 Global Storytelling

  • Audiences saw a powerful mix of shorts, documentaries and features from around the world, including Upside Down (Italy), Zomeracht (Netherlands), Working Differently (UK), Dancer (Mongolia), and Thunder Roles! The World of Blind Baseball (USA). cinemaexpress.com+1varnam.my+1

  • Indian entries such as Tourist Family (Tamil) and Sitaare Zameen Par (Hindi) also featured audio-described screenings and inclusive filmmaker Q&As. varnam.my+1cinemaexpress.com+1

🎯 Why Ability FEST Matters

  • The festival celebrates authentic voices and lived experiences beyond tokenism.

  • It normalizes disability access in cinema—from physical venues to storytelling.

  • The innovative 60-second contest empowers emerging creators to inspire change fast.

  • Its international curation fosters global conversation and cross-cultural empathy.

📅 Looking Ahead

  • Ability FEST returns each year, building momentum for equity, representation, and transformative film.

  • Expect upcoming editions to continue its mission of breaking narratives while building bridges.

🎬 Final Take

Ability FEST 2025 isn’t just a festival—it’s a movement. With every frame, sound, and conversation, it showed how inclusive storytelling can reshape culture—and how a 60‑second film has the potential to spark a lifetime of change.

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