WRITING WITH FIRE
A powerful documentary about the journalists of Khabar Lehariya, the only news organization in India led exclusively by women.
The women of Khabar Lehariya, all belonging to the Dalit caste (“the untouchables”), are preparing to launch a digital newspaper, even though many of them don’t even have electricity at home. Armed with smartphones, the main reporter Meera and her team of research journalists face some of India’s greatest problems – uncovering the ruthless discrimination of women and giving a voice to those who are oppressed in the repressive caste system. Writing with Fire chronicles their admirable determination while they empower each other and demand responsibility from those who cause injustice. The film perfectly presents the millenia-old caste system in India, tradition, gender-based violence against women and corruption.
Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh are award-winning director-producers from India. In 2009, they founded Black Ticket Films, a production company invested in the power of non-fiction storytelling with a strong eye on social justice stories. Rintu and Sushmit were recognised for their work with a President’s Medal in 2012, the highest honour given to filmmakers in India. Writing With Fire is their first feature documentary.
World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award; Audience Award, Sundance Film Festival 2021
IDFA Audience Award, Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival 2021
Best Feature Documentary; Audience Award, Blackstar Film Festival 2021
Best Documentary, DocsMX: The International Documentary Film Festival of Mexico City 2021
Dokufest International Documentary and Short Film Festival 2021
Special Jury Prize for Best Feature Documentary, Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival (GZDOC) 2022
Best Documentary, Indian Film Festival, Stuttgart 2022
Best Film on Social Issues; Best Feature-Length Documentary, Krakow Film Festival 2021
Prix du Public for Best Feature Documentary, Millenium Film Festival 2022
Best Documentary Feature Film, Molodist International Film Festival 2021
Best Feature Documentary (over 60 min), Nordic Docs 2021
Best Documentary, Oslo Films from the South Festival 2021
Best Documentary Feature, San Francisco International Film Festival 2021
Best Director; Best Cinematography, Social Impact Media Awards, US 2022
Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature, Telluride Mountainfilm Festival 2021
Grand Jury Documentary Award, The Hague Movies that Matter Festival 2022
Grand Jury Documentary Award, The Hague Movies that Matter Festival 2021
Best Documentary, Valladolid International Film Festival 2021
Best Documentary, Washington DC Filmfest 2021
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature, Wisconsin Film Festival 2021
WRITING WITH FIRE (doc.)
Directors: Sushmit Ghosh, Rintu Thomas
Country: India
Year: 2021.
Runtime: 92’
Language: Hindi
Cast: Meera Devi, Shyamkali Devi, Suneeta Prajapati
Production: Black Ticket Films
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PROGRAMME: E EU: ZONE OF CHANGE