Month: November 2024

Bhubaneswar; 18 Nov 2024: Odisha-born Santanu Mishra, producer of iconic movie “I Am Kalam” received two awards, for films based on real-life stories, during the 34^th Odisha State Films Awards organised by the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Odisha, in Bhubaneswar. Honourable Governor of Odisha, Sh. Raghubar Das and Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, Smt. Pravati Parida graced the award function along with other dignitaries. 

‘Manayun’: My Wonderland, produced by Santanu Mishra was adjudged the Best Documentary Movie. The movie showcases the real-life journey of an Odia youth from Kutia Kondh tribe in rural Kalahandi who travels down to southern India in search of livelihood. His struggle makes him realize the importance of education and he vows to do something back home. He returns to his native village to open a free school for the local children, becoming its first teacher despite his own financial challenges.

Manayun has earned accolades in Durban International Film Festival, South Africa; MICE International Film Festival, CUBA; Mostra International Film Festival, Valencia, Spain; Peace and Coexistence Short Film Festival (PCSFF), Iraq; Lift-Off Filmmaker Session, UK; Kinofestival, Light of the World, Russia; Lamatatena, Mexico; among others.

Another film “Torch”, produced by Santanu Mishra received the Special Jury Award. This film is set in a remote village near the famous Konark sun temple in Odisha, on the life of a poor farmer’s son who is amazed by the advent of technology in their lives after the arrival of a steel torch to their home. The boy suffers from a condition in his legs and it prevents him from leading a normal life. This pushes him into depression. However, arrival of a mere torch rekindles his interest in life. He becomes an inspiration in the vicinity. The film is based on a real-life story.

Torch and Manayun were the only two nominations from India for Durban International Film Festival Audience Award in South Africa. Torch has also been part of many prestigious film festivals across Europe, South America and Asia.

Both the films are directed by Pranab Kumar Aich, a young director from Odisha.

After making the iconic movie ‘I Am Kalam’, Santanu Mishra has carried forward the legacy by making numerous award-winning documentaries and short films, besides establishing an international film festival called SIFFCY (Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth) as its chairman.

I Am Kalam travelled to 60 countries, winning some 40 awards in various categories, that includes the National Film Award for the lead actor.

SIFFCY has completed its 10 editions and it is known for its curation of handpicked films for children and youth from across the world. Its major focus is on sensitising and inspiring the youth, bringing out inspirational stories and channelizing the energy and enthusiasm of children and youth into a positive direction.

“I believe that films are the most powerful medium to depict reality and emulate values. A single good film has the potential to stimulate discussion and contemplation among young people about personal, emotional, societal, moral and other pressing issues enabling them to become better and stronger individuals,” said Santanu Mishra.

Santanu Mishra was born in Odisha’s Sambalpur. After completing his B. Com, he moved to Delhi and became an associate member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Later he completed his management education from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). At the peak of his corporate career, he quit his fulltime job and started Smile Foundation along with his friends to give back to the society.

Both the protagonists of the award-winning movies have been supported by Smile Foundation after knowing their real-life struggles. Later, their inspiring journeys were made into films.

 The European Union Film Festival (EUFF), in collaboration with Smile Foundation, brings back “Bachpan” — a special day curated for young audiences

New Delhi; 14th of Nov. 2024: The European Union Film Festival (EUFF), in association with Smile Foundation, dedicated a day specially curated for young Indian audiences, titled “Bachpan”, during the ongoing 10-day festival in New Delhi.

The acclaimed Swedish film UFO Sweden, directed by Victor Danell, opened the special “Bachpan” day. In addition, a storyboard-making workshop for children was conducted by celebrated Czech storyboard artist Kurt Van der Basch, known for his work on Star Wars, Jurassic World, and Brahmastra.

EUFF celebrates the Indo-European partnership through culture, art, and cinema. The 2024 edition offers a captivating journey through the rich diversity of European cinema, showcasing original storytelling, a wide range of genres and formats, and fresh perspectives from emerging and independent filmmakers.

SIFFCY (Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth), an initiative by Smile Foundation, aims to entertain, engage, educate, and empower young minds. Rooted in the belief that cinema is more than mere entertainment, SIFFCY views it as a powerful medium for portraying reality and instilling values. This year, SIFFCY celebrated its 10th edition in a hybrid format, with screenings held both physically and on a dedicated, secure, geo-blocked virtual platform.

International cinema can introduce young minds to a world of new ideas, serving as a powerful tool to foster empathy, promote positive values, and help build a more inclusive society. Bachpan is designed to guide young audiences in this direction, offering fresh perspectives and allowing them to explore their interests.

Speaking about Bachpan, Ms. Ewa Suwara, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, remarked, “With a program like Bachpan, our goal is to guide young minds towards a creative approach to work and life while introducing them to the power of storytelling. We also aim to expose them to diverse cultures and foster a true understanding of inclusivity.”

The European Union Film Festival shares this vision, curating films that act as gateways across space and time. Harnessing the extraordinary communicative power of cinema, the festival creates a platform for listening, sharing, and fostering intercultural dialogue that transcends both physical and virtual boundaries.

Mr. Santanu Mishra, chairman of SIFFCY and Co-founder of Smile Foundation, expressed, “Good cinema becomes an interesting and engaging alternative to stimulate discussion among young people about vital personal, societal, moral, and world issues. We value this collaboration with the EUFF that has brought valuable creative and intellectual treasure to our young audience.”

SIFFCY Director Mr. Jitendra Mishra said, “This has been an honour for SIFFCY to continue a longstanding and fruitful association with the European Union Film Festival. Our partnerships have helped bring the best of children’s films, innovative ideas, and invaluable creative skills, especially from the European regions, benefiting hundreds of thousands of children and youth across India.”

About the European Union (EU): The EU, which consists of 27 countries, has the world’s largest economy and its third largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its ‘Member States’) are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. They have set up common institutions so that decisions on matters of joint interest can be made democratically at the European level. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the euro), which has been adopted by 20 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment. It is also at the forefront of policies on sustainability. 

EU-India relations: For over 60 years, the European Union and India have collaborated to reduce poverty, prevent disasters, protect human rights, expand trade, and promote joint research in areas

More information on the European Union Film Festival:

Website: www.euffindia.com | IG:  @euffindia | FB:  European Union Film Festival | X: @euffindia 

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organisation directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and their families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, skilling, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban clusters in 28 states. Visit www.smilefoundationindia.org

IG: @smilefoundationindia | FB: smilefoundation | X: @smilefoundation