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Indian Film-Maker Wins Top Commonwealth Vision Award

2 December 2004

My Friend Su
"The Commonwealth Vision Awards show how the power of images can create opportunities and expand horizons for young people throughout the Commonwealth."
Neeraj Bhasin, a film-maker from New Delhi, India, collected the first prize in the 2004 Commonwealth Vision Awards during a ceremony at the Commonwealth Club in London, UK, on 25 November 2004.

The awards seek to promote excellence in film-making across the Commonwealth. Entrants were commissioned to make a 30-90 second film or advertisement on the theme for Commonwealth Day 2005, 'Education -- creating opportunity, realising potential'. 

Rupalli Mehraa from India received the Highly Commended Award, as did Timothy Senaviratne from Sri Lanka and Vandana Sood from India for their joint entry to the competition. Elspeth Duncan of Trinidad and Tobago and Australian Christine Saunders were each awarded the Commended Prize. Nine other entries from Fiji Islands, Ghana, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United Republic of Tanzania were shortlisted. 

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said at the ceremony: "The Commonwealth Vision Awards show how the power of images can create opportunities and expand horizons for young people throughout the Commonwealth."

The films will be distributed to television stations across the Commonwealth and be shown on Commonwealth Day, 14 March 2005. They will also be available on video. A CD-Rom of the productions will be included in the education pack for Commonwealth Day, produced by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), to be distributed to schools and other organisations.

Stuart Mole, RCS Director-General, commented: "These awards are going from strength to strength. Not only are they encouraging the development of talented young film-makers around the Commonwealth, but their films are now being seen by millions across the world. What better way to convey the Commonwealth message?"

The awards were launched in May 2001 by British TV presenter Sir Trevor McDonald and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

 

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 212 1 December 2004

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