Abära is Ireland's first ever International Disability Film Festival. The aim of the festival is to celebrate progress made by people with disabilities while increasing awareness and understanding of the many challenges still faced by people with disabilities around the world.

In recent years, filmmakers globally have highlighted disability issues through documentaries, comedies, dramatic genres, music videos and animation. The films come from places as diverse as Senegal and Belgium, Tibet and Bangladesh, Australia and Brazil. In addition to addressing subjects rarely tackled in mainstream culture or media, these films have one further thing in common – they are all superb, quality films which can only add to the to the already rich offering of cinema in this country.

We hope that the films selected for Abära will illustrate how people with disabilities lead both ordinary and extraordinary lives, filled with equal hopes and dreams, and encourage people to take action in such turbulent times to support people with disabilities in Ireland and in the developing world. The festival would not be possible without the invaluable financial contribution of our main donor - the Department of Justice and Equality. We are also very grateful to them and also to other donors, partners and supporters. Without their support Abära simply would not be possible. It was a joy to select these films. Now we hope that they provoke and inspire you!

Aidan Leavy,
Festival Chair
What does Abära mean?

ABÄRA is the Amharic word for shine

Abära means "shine" in Amharic, the main language of Ethiopia. Abära implies positive energy, optimism and forward thinking – like this festival, and the people it is about.