Global honour for film shot by orphans

Innocent dreams and wonders of twelve young minds "" 'Aami' is a film documentation of lives of the inmates of Centre for Communication and Development (CCD) "" a Destitute Children's Home at Madhyamgram, in West Bengal.

The 20-minute documentary was shot entirely by residents of the home and won the overall grand prize among 120 films from 23 countries at the Kids Film festival organised by the International Centre of Films for Children and Young people.

Aami was the only selected entry from Asia. The film has now been invited for screening at the Chicago Children's Film Festival later this year.

It was conceptualised, coordinated and packaged by Nidhi Mehrotra with creative inputs from Manav Jalan. The film was scripted directed and cinematographed by the children themselves.

Directed and shot by Asikul Islam and Saiful Mondol, both only 11 years, Aami captured the fantasy of young minds and their innocence but matter-of-fact manner.

The Asikul-Saiful film has not had a public screening yet, but private shows to children have received enthusiastic response.