"Miners Shot Down", helmed by South African Indian-origin makers, has won the best documentary honour at the International Emmy Awards.
Directed by Rehad Desai and produced by Anita Khanna, the documentary tells the story of the August 2012 strike at Marikana, a town in in the North West province of South Africa, through the eyes of the miners, which left 44 people dead and scores more injured when police opened fire.
Through eye witness accounts and incisive interviews, the film details the source of the tensions between the workers and their employers as they started protesting the low wages paid by the company progressing to the aftermath of the killings.
Desai was given a standing ovation from the audience at the ceremony, which took place in New York.
The filmmakers said they welcome the accolades but are more concerned about creating greater awareness of the tragedy on which the documentary is based.
Desai, who comes from a family steeped in the anti-apartheid struggle, said the aim was to bring to the notice of the public not just the severity of the massacre, but also how broader social and economic injustices were occurring regularly in democratic South Africa.
Before the Emmy award, the film won awards at Film Festivals in seven other countries, including South Africa, but Desai lamented the fact that it had still not been shown on local television.
Desai's production company, Uhuru Films, also encourages the public and organisations to arrange special screenings and make donations to the survivors of the Marikana massacre.
