Lingui, The Sacred Bonds - a bold portrayal of female struggle and a lesson in humanity by filmmaker Mahamat-Saleh Harounan won the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal at the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India. The film, coproduced by Belgium France Germany and was made in Arabic and French. recounts the story of the sacred relationship between a mother and daughter and their survival against the harsh laws set by men.
Lingui, The Sacred Bonds was selected for the prestigious award for promoting the values and ideals of peace, tolerance and non-violence propagated by Mahatma Gandhi.
The award was announced on Sunday at the closing ceremony of the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival held at Goa in hybrid format from November 20-28.
Through this art work filmmaker Mahamat-Saleh Haroun presents an ode to all women who struggles to live in a patriarchal society set according to the whims of men. It also raises awareness of gender issues and fundamental right to education of women, according to a release by the I&B Ministry.
The film is also selected as the Chadian entry for the Best International Feature Film to the 94th Academy Awards, 2022.
This year, nine films from across the globe were chosen to compete for the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal. The films that competed in this category were 21st Tiffin (India), Commitment Hassan (Turkey), Killing the Eunach Khan (Iran), Koozhangal (India), Lingui-The Sacred Bonds (Chad, France, Belgium, Germany), Night Forest (Germany), Niraye Thathakalulla Maram (India), Tokyo Shaking (France) and When Pomegranates howl (Australia, Afghanistan).
Every year at IFFI, ICFT, Paris and UNESCO comes together to present the Gandhi medal to one film. The films competing for the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Award are screened at IFFI first and then, the ICFT jury evaluates the films based on the ideals of UNESCO.
The UNESCO issued commemorative medal in 1994, marking the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. Since then the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Award is being given to a film that best reflects Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of peace, tolerance and non-violence.
IFFI, considered to be one of the oldest and prestigious film festivals of Asia, brings together an assorted selection of enthralling films, Masterclasses, In-conversation sessions among many other events. The 52nd edition of IFFI showcased more than 300 films including 148 international films from 73 countries, the release added.
