CHENNAI: Showers might bring back memories of our childhood, those filled with paper boats on rainy afternoons in newly formed puddles. However, innocent activities like this, that depend upon normal climatic events, might become antiquated to our childhood memories only.
As a prelude to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, the British Council organised a short film competition to campaign against global warming.
The competition brought four friends whose passion is film making, together.
For Arun Bose, who works in National Folklore Support Centre, Kiran Tom Sajan and Sachindev PS, students of MCC, and Deepu Charles, working with an event management company, this was the perfect platform to unleash their creative genius.
It was almost two months ago that British Council invited aspiring and professional film makers to come up with a one-minute video against global warming. The foursome came up with their simple video in a few days.
In November their film got shortlisted among the 27 selected entries from all over the world, going on to be judged as the Best Film by the jury, which includes Shekhar Kapur and Bruce Parry.
Titled My Paper Boat, their winning entry traces the agony of Arjun, a small boy who has lost his play space to the droughts. The video is taken from various angles of the boy. The sound he makes while playing with his paper boat works perfectly as the background music.
“Ours is a very simple video and it conveys a powerful message,” says Arun—it was probably the least expensive short film made in the contest.
However, with professionals from across the globe vying for the top spot, none of the four friends expected their work to emerge as winner. “More than the winning part, we are thrilled to know that the film will be screened at the Copenhagen summit,” says Arun.
“Though we are not environmentalists, we feel we are doing our part in contributing to nature,” says Kiran.
“If it leaves a frightening image, that should serve the purpose,” adds Sachin.
The foursome has received prize money of 1000 pounds. My Paper Boat will be the only Indian short film to be screened at the Copenhagen summit.