Samarthya 2026 Celebrates Disability, Achievement and Inclusion Through Cinema

Bhubaneswar: Moving beyond conventional narratives of disability and awareness, Samarthya 2026 used the power of cinema to spotlight confidence, achievement and the contributions of persons with disabilities to society.

The national short film festival, organised by the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department, was held at the MMIT Auditorium in Bhubaneswar on Friday, bringing together filmmakers, artists, disability rights activists, officials and social workers.

Unlike earlier editions that primarily focused on creating awareness about disability, this year’s festival sought to challenge stereotypes by presenting stories of people overcoming barriers, pursuing their aspirations and making meaningful contributions to society.

The festival received 62 entries from across India, comprising 20 national-level and 42 regional films. Following a two-stage evaluation, 38 films were shortlisted for the final screening. To ensure concise and impactful storytelling, participating films were restricted to a maximum duration of five minutes.

Accessibility was also given prominence at the festival, with films featuring audio descriptions and sign language to enable visually and hearing-impaired audiences to engage with the screenings.

Veteran cinematographer Jugal Debata headed the jury, which included Tripura Mishra and disability rights activist Jitendra Biswal. The jury selected the winners across various categories.

In the National Category, Tune of Life and Medal jointly won the Best Film award. Tune of Life also bagged awards for Best Director, Best Actor for Sahu Jaysinghrao Sabekar and Best Prop Use. A Little Big Dream received the Best Film award from the Panel Expert Committee and Best Cinematography, while Plea won Best Story/Screenplay and Best Actress for Atreyee Banerjee.

In the Odia Category, Antardrashti and Leak jointly won Best Film. Leak also secured awards for 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 received Panel Expert Committee honours.

Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, SSEPD Special Secretary Rajani Jani, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Bratati Harichandan and Financial Advisor Jayashree Tripathi attended the event.

Festival Brand Ambassador and actor Sheetal Patra, along with senior SSEPD officials and students from various educational institutions, were also present.

Through Samarthya 2026, the department sought to use cinema not merely as a tool for awareness but as a platform to recognise ability, aspiration and achievement, encouraging a more inclusive understanding of disability in society.