And the winner is...
Congratulations to young film makers Charles Andrew Flamiano from the Philippines, Liat Har-Gill from Israel, and Mudit Muraka from India for winning the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s 2012 global film competition, Faith Shorts.
The three winners received their awards at 195 Piccadilly, the home of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in front of over 200 guests including Tony Blair, members of the entertainment and film industry, religious leaders, and experts from Wikipedia, Youtube and Google.
In case you missed the livestream you can watch the video of Faith Shorts 2012:
Winner in the 14-17 year old category, Charles Andrew Flamiano, who is a 16 year old student from General Santos City, Philippines, made an emotional film “Letting Go, Letting God”. The winning film focuses on putting trust in God when faced with an adversity like illness.
Commenting on the news that he had won in his category, Charles Andrew Flamiano said: "This award has been the greatest thing which has ever happened to me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to receive this award and to see this very lovely place. I would like to thank the judges for selecting my film my class mates who served as cast and crew and my family and my school for nurturing my faith since elementary years.”
You can watch Charles’ film below:
Host of the event Julie Etchingham said,
“These films truly give young people a voice in a world where they can often feel drowned out – and an opportunity to use their personality and creativity to express their faith and what it means to them. They challenge stereotypes, provoke thought – and most importantly encourage tolerance and compassion.
If even only one film had the power to turn one person’s ignorance into understanding it would be worth it. But these films have the potential to reach many more, and to foster a network of respect among young people from all backgrounds”.
15 year old student, Mudit Muraka, from New Delhi, won the Face to Faith category for his film “The Mirror”. His film explores the social pressures teenagers around the world face today.
Commenting on the news that he’d won his category, Mudit said:
“This is really amazing and I am overwhelmed. Thank you to my school, my principal and family. Thank you for giving me this platform to express my views on what is such a sensitive and important topic for young people. I hope the Foundation continues its great work. Someday I hope we can live in a world where everyone is free of prejudices and stereotypes and can have their own unique faith and be themselves”.
Watch his film below:
Liat Har-Gill, a 25 year old from Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel, won the 18-27 year old category and the overall best Faith Shorts 2012 film for her short film “Deathbed: The Musical”. Liat’s film was inspired by her time living in Jerusalem when she saw religious difference being used as a way to create division and conflict. She said, “My hope is that the extremists in any religion will come to realise through “Deathbed: The Musical” that in the end we are all alike in both our humanity and mortality”.
Commenting on the fact that she won the competition overall, Liat said:
“I don’t have a problem with religion; I have a problem with religious extremists. That’s why it is good the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is being a bridge between different religions and communities. Being that bridge is important.
There is tolerance everywhere and we must show the different sides of faith through a new medium, like film. My favourite films were those made by the youngest entrants. I think younger have an easier time seeing the beautiful side of religion and what faith is intended to be. I particularly like that the Faith Shorts competitions is about building understanding about different religions”.
You can watch Liat's film here:
These films were judged by a global panel including Tony Blair, Jonathan Caplan QC, Hugh Jackman , Anil Kapoor, Jet Li, Wendi Deng Murdoch, Nik Powell , Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, June Sarpong, Deepak Verma, Dawn French, Lord David Puttnam of Queensgate C.B.E.. Duncan Kenworthy, His Excellency Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Gale Anne Hurd, Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, Nick Jones, Pastor Rick Warren, Stu Levy and Sherry Lansing.
