‘Algorithms’, a documentary about the visually challenged chess players of India, has won the Ram Bahadur Trophy for the best film at the 9th Film South Asia (FSA) festival held in Kathmandu.
Directed by Ian McDonald and produced by Geetha J, the documentary takes the audience into the thriving but little-known world of the visually challenged chess players in India by following three visually impaired boys and a totally blind pioneer chess champion for three years. This observational documentary with a difference, moves through the algorithms of the chess world of the sightless , challenging the sighted of what it means ‘to see’.
The FSA jury was comprised of chairman Sadanand Menon, an acclaimed art critic and journalist from Chennai,Shahidul Alam, an internationally renowned photographer and activist from Dhaka and Sapana Sakya,the public media director at the Center for Asian American Media(CAAM) at Kathmandu.
‘Invoking Justice’ by Deepa Dhanraj and ‘Are you Listening!’ by Kamar Ahmed Simon bagged the QFX Awards. ‘No. 62 Pansodan Street’ by Cho Phyone won the Tareque Masud Award for the best debut film.
‘Char… No Man’s Island’ by Sourav Sarangi bagged the UNICEF Nepal Award. ‘No Fire Zone’ by Callum Macrae received a Special Jury Mention.