Special Prize to Best Documentary Film 2009 GOLDEN GATE FICTION & DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL
Best Screenplay 2010 FESTIVAL DU FILM DE STRASBOURG
Best Screenplay 2010 PUNTA DEL ESTE DOCUMENTARY & FICTION FESTIVAL
Best Integral Realization 2010 PUNTA DEL ESTE DOCUMENTARY & FICTION FESTIVAL
Official Selection 2009 CHICAGO SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2010 FESTIVAL DE CINE DE GRANADA 2010 SHORT FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES 2010 PHILADELPHIA DOCUMENTARY & FICTION FESTIVAL
Director: Abhijit Das Gupta Producer: Kolkata Sukriti Foundation Writer: Abhijit Das Gupta Genre: Documentary Country: India Duration: 29 min 55 sec Original Format: Mini DV Leading Actor: Jail inmates Photography: Sanjit Dutta & Swapan Das Editing: Saikat Ghosh
Synopsis of the Film: Jail inmates, many of whom are convicted for life - for murder, rape, arson are deprived of the basic human right to vote in the largest democracy of the world. According to inmates - "they don't live as normal human beings". Most live in a state of depression, despair and hopelessness. Not everyday does one get to see history in the making. It is a moving experience of seeing hard core criminals, shunned by the society, men without any hope, slowly getting back into the main stream of life. It is an experience of seeing real-life transformation. It is the outcome of an experiment that induced these hard hearts to participate in an opera. Some are so reformed that the judiciary is releasing them - giving them a chance to go back to normal life beyond the walls. But can they, after decades within the walls find back the rhythm of life? Will they face yet another wall - the wall of social injustice, stigma and ignorance? What about their rehabilitation?
Bio-filmography of the Director: Abhijit Das Gupta has been associated with news since the early 60's and with television for over three decades. Abhijit is also the Secretary of Kolkata Sukriti Foundation, an eNGO that uses TV to reach the unreached with socially purposive programmes. He has received two National and three International Awards.
Annual Program Without Frontiers - The Jail
