Goa teacher's film on autism wins accolade in film fest

Panaji: Goa-based special educator Jacinta Santamaria's quest to raise fund to build a resource room for special children has earned her second place in an international film festival for her short film on autism.

"I have been working in this field for the last six years. It is a fact that the differently-abled child should be enrolled in regular school, so that they progress well. I have seen students progressing in regular schools," Jacinta, 26, said.

The teacher-turned-filmmaker, Jacinta's short film titled 'It's You who can help me to shine' was adjudged second in the '5-minute video film' category at the We Care International Film Festival organised by socio-cultural organisation Brotherhood in New Delhi in July.

The festival, which showcases films and documentaries made on differently-able people and children, was held in association with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan, UNESCO at the India International Centre.

In the video, based on a song penned by Jacinta, featured story of endeavours of her student Shawn D'Souza, a child with autism, to study in a regular school.

"It was shot over a day. The feelings of the child is narrated through the song. Shawn has been extensively shot in the video, which narrates his struggles to get into a regular school," she said.
The film has been screened at Dubai and Paris before its screening in New Delhi.

"It was second choice of the audience. The video would be screened at various places wherever the festival goes. It will help in passing on the message to a large audience," she added.

Keeping up her words, the young filmmaker has donated the prize amount to St Francis Xavier High School at Siolim, a village in Goa, to construct a resource room in the school.

The special educator intends to set up more resource rooms in schools and said money raised through her film in near future will be used to build more resource rooms.
"I have several plans but I will talk about them only when I really execute them," she said.