Rintu’s films, which are seen as tools of social impact, have become a catalyst for new conversations. His films have been incorporated into university curricula and exhibited globally in venues such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference and The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Sushmit Ghosh is a director – cinematographer whose work has been supported by the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Institute, Dock Society, SFF Film Fund, IDFA, The Bertha Foundation, Sorfond and the Finnish Film Foundation.
Writing With Fire won two awards at Sundance ’21 (Audience Award and Special Jury Award: Impact for Change) and has been nominated for the Academy Awards in this year’s Best Documentary Feature category.
Talking About the Flea, the animated feature tells the story of a gay Afghan young man who fled his homeland for life in the West. According to “Deadline”, the film competed against nine other contenders for best feature, including rival “Summer of Soul” (…or, When Revolution could not be broadcast), and fellow Oscar nominee “Writing”. With Fire’ included.
‘Flea’ director Jonas Pohr Rasmussen, who first met the subject of his film, Amin Nawabi, when he was a teenager in Denmark, accepted the top prize of the night, saying, “First of all, I want to thank Amin I wish you, the subject of the film, for your generosity and courage to share this story with me.
“I also just want to use this opportunity to say that right now the situation in Afghanistan is really bad. It is winter and there is a shortage of food and other necessities and these people are in a very vulnerable position. So, please remember people of Afghanistan and please help in any way you can”, he said.
“Summer of Soul” is about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a long-overlooked series of extraordinary concerts by soon-to-be-known African American artists. The film won Best Music Documentary, Best Editing, and Direction for Thompson.
“Flea” and “Summer of Soul” and “Writing With Fire” are set to close again at the Oscars on March 27. He has been nominated with ‘Ascension’ and ‘Atika’.
The 37th edition of IDA Awards was scheduled to be held in February but was postponed due to omicron Wave. The ceremony was held virtually and was organized by filmmakers Kate Amend, Jerry Henry, Pedro Kos and Renee Tajima-Pea.