USAID Disability Rights Partner Holds Fourth International Film Festival
The USAID-funded disability rights group Perspektiva attracted several hundred human rights activists and filmmakers to Moscow on November 14-17, 2008 for its Fourth International Film Festival, “Breaking Down Barriers.” Featuring nearly 100 short films, documentaries, children’s films and public service announcements (PSAs) from 18 countries, the festival brought to life the successes and challenges facing disabled people in Russia and across the globe.
The biannual festival seeks to raise awareness about the barriers disabled people face in their every day lives and to empower people with disabilities in Russia, especially young people with disabilities, by offering role models of disabled people leading independent and fulfilling lives. In addition to screenings, the festival program included master classes taught by film directors and actors, and roundtable discussions on the best use of PSAs in public awareness and advocacy campaigns. Several of the disabled “heroes” featured in the films screened were on hand to speak with the attendees.
During the closing awards ceremony, the festival’s jury recognized the best films in twelve categories. Two American entries – the film “Miracle” by Jeffrey John Smith, and the PSA “Thumbs Down to Pity” by Benjamin Snow – won awards. The grand prize winner was “Mine” from Iran, about a young boy who was blinded and lost both hands in a minefield and fought successfully for the right to continue his education in a mainstream school. The top films from the festival will be used in a year-long awareness tour, during which they will be screened in 25 regions across Russia.
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| Disabled dancers performed during the closing ceremony of the film festival. |
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