SONY PICTURES NETWORKS INDIA ANNOUNCE THE INDIAWINNERS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL – ‘THE PICTURE THIS FESTIVAL FOR THE PLANET’

SONY PICTURES NETWORKS INDIA ANNOUNCE THE INDIAWINNERS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL –

‘THE PICTURE THIS FESTIVAL FOR THE PLANET’

~ The main winner from India will present his 5.15-minute film “Tubelight” on July 31 at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles ~

Press Release:

Mumbai, July , 2018

Sony Pictures Networks India announced the three India winners including the 2 runners-up of the Picture This Festival for the Planet, a global short-film competition for emerging filmmakers, everyday storytellers and change makers worldwide, to showcase the positive future they see for our planet. The winner for the India region is Vinamra Pancharia, while Shashank Bhosale and Maulik Sisodia are the first and second runners-up, respectively. Winner Vinamra Pancharia, will represent India as a regional finalist at the Picture This Festival for the Planet event in Los Angeles on July 31, where his 5.15-minute film ‘Tubelight’, will be screened alongside films of the seven other regional finalists.

The Winning Entry – Tubelight, is an inspiring story of a homeless child who dreams of going to school but doesn’t have the means to study. He is steadfast in his efforts and sits outside a classroom window to learn everything he can. The film showcases how he never loses his enthusiasm to pursue his dream of education, by practicing what he learns daily under the street lights. Eventually, his dream sees the light of day.

Link to the film Tubelight:https://www.sonypicturethis.com/gallery?video=Oyr_y0KSntA

The first runner-up – The Birdman of Chorao, by Shashank Bhosale, depicts the story of a boatman Uday Tukaram Mandrekar, who lives on the island of Chorao in Goa, India. Intrigued by the influx of tourists who visit his island, he took to learning and guiding birdwatchers in his canoe. The film showcases his journey in protecting the various species of birds, their habitat, learning their migration patterns and engaging fellow villagers to help him in the conservation of the mangrove ecosystem.

The second runner-up – Resurgence, by Maulik Sisodia, is a story that encapsulates the survival sprit of Indians. It takes on the issue of climate change and how villagers in Rajasthan are dealing with water shortage and drought. The film highlights the journey and efforts taken by visionaries and organisations to educate and engage youth from villages to combat water problems in India.

In India, submissions were evaluated by a jury comprisingNitin Nadkarni, Chief Financial Officer, Sony Pictures Networks India; Neeraj Vyas, Business Head - SAB, PAL, Hindi Movies and Music, Sony Pictures Networks India and Tushar Shah, Business Head - English Cluster, Sony BBC Earth and AATH.

Comments:

N.P. Singh, Managing Director& Chief Executive Officer, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN)& Global Jury Member forThe Picture This Festival for the Planet

“At Sony Pictures Networks India, we constantly strive to go-beyond business and catalyze positive change in our society and the country at large. In this regard, Picture This, is our endeavorto heighten social consciousness in the society by working to encourage the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations.I thank all the participants who pictured a change through their short films and congratulate them.”

The India winner will receive a Sony RX0 camera, flight tickets and two nights’ accommodation in Los Angeles, where he will represent India to showcase his film to the global jury of the Picture This Festival for the Planet. India’s first and second runners-up will each receive a Sony PJ675 HANDYCAM® with built-in projector from Sony Pictures Networks India.

The global jury for The Picture This Festival for the Planet consists of celebrity advocates and industry leaders including: Mr. N.P. Singh, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Sony Pictures Networks India; Megan Boone, environmental advocate and actress from the hit TV series The Blacklist; Anggun, internationally renowned recording artist; Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, United Nations Foundation; Marie Jacobson, EVP Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks; Tom Bernard & Michael Barker, Co-Presidents, Sony Pictures Classics; Glenn Gainor, President of Physical Production, Screen Gems; Brett King, Vice President, Creative Programming, Diversity & Inclusion; Tetsuya Bessho, Actor, Founder/President of Short Shorts Film Festival; Damon and Jo, YouTube vloggers; Debbie Levin, President & CEO, Environmental Media Association; and Damian Bradfield, President and Chief Marketing Officer, WeTransfer.

Partners for this year’s festival include: The United Nations Foundation, the United Nations Association of the United States of America, We Transfer, Sony World Photography Awards, Sony Alpha Universe, the Environmental Media Association, Connec4Climate, and environmental leaders and visionaries from around the world. 

About Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN)

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation which owns and operates the Sony Entertainment network of television channels.

SPN comprises 31 channels including Sony Entertainment Television (SET and SET HD), one of India's leading Hindi general entertainment television channels; MAX, India's premium Hindi movies and special events channel; MAX 2, another Hindi movie channel showcasing great India Cinema; MAX HD, a high definition Hindi movie channel airing premium quality films; WAH, the FTA channel for Hindi movies; SAB and SAB HD the family-oriented Hindi comedy entertainment channels; PAL, a genre leader in rural Hindi speaking markets (HSM) showcasing the best of Hindi general entertainment and Hindi movies from SPN’s content library; PIX and PIX HD, the English movie channels; LePlex HD showing critically-acclaimed Hollywood films; AXN and AXN HD, the action and adventure-oriented English entertainment channels; Sony BBC Earth and Sony BBC Earth HD, the premium factual entertainment channels, Sony AATH, the Bangla entertainment channel; MIX a refreshing Hindi music channel; ROX HD, a channel for contemporary Hindi music; YAY!, the kids entertainment channel; Sports Network comprising 11 sports entertainment channels – SONY SIX, SONY SIX HD, SONY ESPN, SONY ESPN HD, SONY TEN 1,  SONY TEN 1 HD, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY TEN 3, SONY TEN 3 HD, SONY TEN GOLF HD; SonyLIV - the digital entertainment VOD platform, SPN Productions, the networks’ film production arm and Sony Pictures Networks Distribution Pvt Ltd. (SPND) that distributes the networks television channels across different genres and languages through multiple content delivery platforms. SPN reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

The network is recognized as an employer of choice within and outside the media industry. SPN is a recipient of several awards, including the ‘Aon Best Employers India’ Award in the 2017 edition in recognition of SPN’s unique workplace culture and exceptional people practices, consistently ranking amongst India’s Top 10 Companies with Best Health & Wellness Practices by SHRM & CGP Partners, listed by Working Mother & AVTAR as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India in 2017 and adjudged one of India’s Great Mid-Size Workplaces for its distribution business by the Great Place To Work® Institute in the 2017 edition.

Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited is in its 23^rd year of operations in India. Its subsidiaries include Sony Pictures Networks Distribution India Private Limited, MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited, MSM Discovery Private Limited, Taj Television (India) Private Limited, Aqua Holding Investments [Pvt.] Ltd., and Bangla Entertainment Private Limited.