Winners for the SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival
2016 Marks Another Successful Festival!
September 28, 2016: This year, EcoSikh collabrated with SikhNet in its 11th Annual Youth Online Film Festival. The theme of the Film Festival, “Mata Dharat – Mother Earth” focused the directors’ lenses on the environment and the future of our planet. 16 films from young Sikh directors were submitted from India, the United States and Kenya. Thousands of people from around the world viewed the films online.
The categories for the films included:
- Juniors (Ages 11 – 17)
- Intermediate (Ages 18-28)
- Seniors (Above 28)
The panel of seven festival judges included SikhNet staff and a representative from EcoSikh. The “Likes” from online viewers around the world served as the community vote. Today, SikhNet is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Film Festival:
Intermediate Category: $1000 Cash Award
Sangraand – Directed by Sukhmanjot Singh. Age 24 from Jalandhar, Punjab, India.
This heart-warming film explores the connection between the vibration of Gurbani and the elements of earth. It follows a classical musician as he travels to a small village that has been suffering from an extended drought. The movie asks the question whether our natural processes are simply natural. Or can prayer and devotion positively impact the environment? Beautiful musical score and cinematography accompany this film.
Click here to see.
Selfless Shade – Directed by Raj Angad Singh and Hardeep Singh. Age 24 from Chandigarh, India.
This whimsical film tells a wonderful environmental story from the perspective of a sapling that grows into a tree. The film offers a tender narrative from the voice of the sapling, good tips for how to help grow trees, and a mystical tone that shares the true purpose of a tree. Wonderfully scripted and filmed.
Click here to see.
Bute da Prasad – Directed by Kunwar Raj Singh. Age 21 from Jalandhar, Punjab, India.
An innocent young boy begins to take an interest in caring for the earth. Going to Gurdwara, he discovers a new kind of “prasad” – a sapling that he can plant and care for on his own. The film posits the question – what would happen if spiritual places led the way for environmental restoration?
Click here to see.
Junior Category $500 Cash Award
Paani Pitaa – Directed by Amrita Kaur Bhasin. Age 15 from Menlo Park, CA, USA.
This movie follows the story of a young boy who learns about environmental issues in his community. He travels to India, learning about pollution there. While also learning more about pollution in the United States. Over time, he begins to accept that it is his responsibility as a Sikh to preserve the environment and take action to help. The director, in this film, wanted to make a move that combined local issues in California with greater global issues. A thoughtful and well put together film.
Click here to see.
Senior Category
The 5 R’s of Eco-Sikhism – Directed by: Dilraj Singh, Bhavanraj Singh and Jaskirat Kaur from Nairobi, Kenya.
Reuse. Recycle. Reduce. Restore. And respect. These are the 5 R’s that this short documentary examines, focusing on environmental problems and practices in Kenya. This educational, well-developed film gives practical tools and useful ideas for how we can, in small ways, begin to help heal the environment.
Click here to see.
SikhNet extends a HUGE thanks to all of the directors, the casts and crews of these wonderful, thoughtful Sikh films. The films have made a terrific contribution to the voice of Sikh media. So much thought, care and effort goes into each of these movies. Every single one of these films will be watched for years to come.
Truly, every film is a winner. All of the submissions to this year’s film festival can be viewed online at: http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfes
SikhNet has helped connect the worldwide Sikh community through the Internet since 1995. We are a platform for people to easily connect with the heart and wisdom of the Sikh faith, and with each other.
