Behind The Camera- #ShubhraVandit

I love making films on social causes... SAMPARC (Social Action for Man Power Creation) affords shelter and schooling to destitute children and children of commercial sex workers. Samarc’s Balgram, is an orphanage with over 700 children across various centres. It aims at educating and providing a sustainable future for underprivileged children. The founder Mr. Amit Banerjee believes that our country can progress only when each and every child of our country is educated. I make these films because people with goals about social welfare find it tough to get support since their work isn’t commercial, and investors won’t exactly be getting an ROI. It’s tough to go on by oneself. If my skills can be of any use to such people with a noble cause reach their goal, it’s the best achievement. There are people who want to help, but are sceptical or unaware of institutions doing genuine work, my films can help create credibility and connect them. We, as a human race crave connection. I believe that, stories have the power to comfort us with that, and a well narrated story can become one of the most treasured moments of our lifetimes. In my life, during times of solitude when even my closest of kith and kin seemingly failed to understand me, watching a film provided me with a sense of belonging. I want to reciprocate the same in my films. I want that these ideas spread amongst the youth, in metropolitan city especially. Being aware of the issues prevailing in our society and how people find means to overcome them does change the way one lives their life. As an example, after making ‘street talk’, a film about a homeless person in Barcelona who teaches Spanish for a living, I made it a point to have a conversation with any homeless person I came across. Even if I didn’t have money to spare, I would just sit and talk with them because as the subject of Street Talk says, “we are invisible”, we as a society look down on them and completely ignore them. Giving them your attention can make a world of difference to them. As an international filmmaker, I have been making films for the past 5 years. I have done a Masters in Film Direction from ESCAC, Barcelona. My films have won at the Paris Play Film Festival and have been official screened at the Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival amongst others. I was invited to the Cannes Film Festival last year. My film, 'L'estoc' has won the Best Film Award - at the 'Paris Play Film Festival' and was an Official Selection, at the 'Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival'. 'Street Talk' was screened at the 'Bibliocurts de Barcelona' and has a mention by the Government website of Barcelona and many other websites. Social media mentions like tweets by 'CatalanVoices' have appreciated my work as a "unique perspective". Some of my other films are titled, 'Las Ventanas' and 'Paola'. Mentioned below are links for further reference. Film Links: 'L'estoc', 'Street Talk', 'Paola' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/ 'Las Ventanas' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/shorts/las-ventanas/ Festival coverage links: 'Street Talk' - http://bibliocurts.cat/event/barcelona-en-curt-sessio-2/ - https://www.facebook.com/events/182973662267494/ 'L'estoc' - https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1064534289356865541 - https://parisplayfilmfestival.wordpress.com/winners/winners-6th-edition/ - http://largofilmawards.com/august-2017/ - http://www.sierrafilmfest.org/films.html 'Paola' - https://thecollective.es/cinemaclub9/ 'Las Ventanas' - https://www.facebook.com/events/551676698578571/permalink/571722126574028/ Info, Synopsis Links: 'L'estoc' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/lestoc/ 'Street Talk' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/street-talk/ 'Paola' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/paola/ I am currently working on a film about anti-terrorism in Mumbai before I fly to New York next month. My film, 'L'estoc' has won the Best Film Award - at the 'Paris Play Film Festival' and was an Official Selection, at the 'Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival'. 'Las Ventanas', 'Street Talk' and 'Paola'. Film Links: 'L'estoc', 'Street Talk', 'Paola' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/ 'Las Ventanas' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/shorts/las-ventanas/ Info, Synopsis Links: 'L'estoc' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/lestoc/ 'Street Talk' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/street-talk/ 'Paola' - http://www.shubhravandit.com/films/documentary/paola/ My next film deals with yet another social issue, water conservation. Back while I was doing my engineering, I made a working model of a waste collection bot aimed at cleaning the polluted rivers of India. I thought of taking the story forward in a film focussing on both pollution and conservation. I am also working on an International feature film based on the journey of a orphan girl child who is adopted by a foreign couple. Shubhra Vandit, Filmmaker www.shubhravandit.com