Smile Foundation’s documentaries “Manayun” and “Torch” compete in Audience Choice category at Durban International Film Festival
~The films are enactment documentaries of the real-life journey of young beneficiaries of Smile Foundation’s projects in rural Odisha~
New Delhi, Aug 08, 2022: Two films made by Smile Foundation got a world premiere at the 43rd Durban Interna tional Film Festival (DIFF) as a rare honour. The films are among the top 12 films selected globally under the Aud ience Choice category of the Nelson Mandela Film Festival, partnering with DIFF this year.
‘Manayun’ and ‘Torch’ are both enactment documentaries filmed at two of Smile Foundation’s education pro jects in rural Odisha. They capture the real-life coming-of-age journeys of two ordinary but inspiring young men.
Manayun – My Wonderland showcases the journey of a young man who travels in search of livelihood. His str uggle makes him realize the importance of education and he returns to his native village to start a school. His native place is nestled in the picturesque, naturally endowed district of Kalahandi in Odisha.
The other film, Torch, captures the life of a teenager growing up in a village near Konark, home to the Sun Tem ple. Soumya suffers from a condition in his legs that prevents him from leading a normal life, pushing him into depression. His interest in life is rekindled by a torch light.
Both the films have been made by Smile Foundation, known besides its development work, for making the iconic children’s film I Am Kalam in 2010. The organization has carried forward this legacy by making several document aries, films, television series and establishing a children’s film festival called SIFFCY that has been running for eig ht years now and is known for its curation of handpicked films for children and youth from across the world.
Santanu Mishra, founder-trustee of Smile Foundation and producer of Manayun and Torch, says, “We want to ta ke the work, the stories and the inspiration from what we practice on the ground to a larger audience. Ever since I am Ka lam, we have come to believe in the power of films as a tool to reach and sensitise the masses. These films are a step for ward in vocalizing challenges that are faced at the grassroots and exemplify how ordinary people can bring change in th eir lives, their communities.”
Mr. Pranab Aich, Director of the two films, says, “I have been making documentaries for 15 years now. I am fond of telling stories through children as they are our future, and their perspective on life has mostly been ignored mainstream cinema. Smile Foundation has been doing excellent work with children. Getting to make films on such stories is a cha lle nge and joy. Manayun, in particular, was shot in very difficult terrain.”
Smile Films is an initiative of Smile Foundation, an Indian social development organization, benefitting over 15 lakh children and their families every year. Smile Foundation believes that unless members of civil society are involved proactively in the devel opment process, sustainable change will not happen.
Smile Foundation believes cinema is one of the most influential and creative tools that can promote positivity and aims to empo wer and educate society about societal problems and about the way to resolve these through good cinema. Smile Foundation has been deploying good cinema as a medium for sensitizing the masses and en gaging them proactively in the process of initiating social change. Smile Found ation wants to involve the civil society to be an active partner in all its welfare initiatives.
About Smile Foundation:
Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and fam ilies every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women em powerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban slums in 26 states.
