Paperman Media ( Bhubaneswar )- The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), Government of Odisha, is organizing "Samarthya-2026"—a national-level short film festival. The goal of this festival is to bring the inspiring success stories of persons with disabilities to the national stage. Each short film must be a maximum of 5 minutes long. This year's theme is "Success Stories of Persons with Disabilities." The Honorable Minister emphasized that the state government will provide all necessary support for this event.
A press conference was held in Bhubaneswar to share details about the festival with the media. Officials from the SSEPD department attended the meet and highlighted the importance and relevance of this national-level short film festival.
Renowned film personalities, jury members, and panel experts were also present at the conference. RR Events and Cine Production has been given the responsibility to manage and execute the festival smoothly.
Film producers, directors, media students, and independent filmmakers from various states across the country have been invited to participate. They are encouraged to submit short films based on the success, struggles, and inspiring life stories of persons with disabilities.
Participants need to focus on three main guidelines:
1. The short film must be based on the life story of a successful person with a disability.
2. The film must include audio description.
3. Sign language interpretation along with subtitles or closed captions is mandatory.
Interested producers and directors can visit www.shortfilmfestodisha.in for detailed information. The last date to submit entries is *July 7, 2026*.
The submitted films will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of jury members on *July 8, 2026*, and the awards will be announced on *July 11, 2026*. The selected films will be screened at the festival, and the best films will win awards in both national and regional (Odisha) categories. All participants will receive certificates.
The main goal of "Samarthya-2026" is to showcase the extraordinary talent, capability, and success of persons with disabilities to society. It also aims to create awareness, promote inclusion, and foster a positive attitude towards disability.
