Indian film bags award at Catholic film fest

A 25-minute Don Bosco flash film has bagged the first prize in multimedia category at the 26th International Catholic Film Festival at Niepokalanow, Poland.

The award comprised of a statuette and a certificate.

The film was made by Father Jiji Kalavanal, director of Don Bosco Image, Kochi, an Institute of media, animation, graphics and EFx (electronic effects).

Other films of Indian directors which received special jury mention at the June 4 festival in various categories included "Pool of Siloam", a 25-minute documentary by Israel-based Salesian Father Biju Michael and a 10-minute documentary from Nairobi, Kenya by Salesian Father Sebastian Koladiyil.

Of the twelve member international jury, nine members present voted unanimously for most of the selections.

The festival is jointly organized by the Catholic Film Association of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe and Franciscan Monastery at Niepokalanów.

President of SIGNIS-Japan Shigeki Chiba got the prestigious "Multimedia at the Service of the Gospel Award."

There were two prizes in this category "for outstanding achievements in the area of evangelization through multimedia."

Chiba, veteran director, has made award winning films including historical films on Mother Teresa, St. Maxmillan Kolbe and Pope John Paul II.

The national award in the same category went to Salesian Father Roman Szpakowski, president of the Catholic Editors Association of Poland and founder organizer of the annual Catholic Editors Fair at the Royal Castle of Warsaw.

Earlier, at the award ceremony, Salesian Father C.M. Paul from Kolkata handed over the peace promoter award to Niepokalanow Franciscan Monastery prior Father Stanislaw Pietka and the president of the Catholic Film Association of Poland Daunta Stachyra, on behalf of Pablo Marcet, "Pax Urbis" coordinator based in Barcelona, Spain.