Indian director wins Sundance-Mahindra filmmaking award

Los Angeles: India`s Neeraj Ghaywan and three others today won the prestigious 2014 Sundance Institute-Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award, which is given every year to emerging independent directors from around the world.

Ghaywan, who worked as an assistant director on Anurag Kashyap`s `Gangs of Wasseypur` and helmed short films `Shor` and `Epiphany`, was awarded for his project `Fly Away Solo`, a relationship drama about four people striving to escape the trappings of a small-town. The other winners are Denmark`s Tobias Lindholm for his project `A War`, Vietnam/UK`s Hong Khaou for `Monsoon` and Australia`s Ashlee Page for `Archive`. Lindholm has collaborated with Thomas Vinterberg as the co-writer on this year`s Danish Oscar entry `The Hunt`. Each of the four winning filmmakers will receive a cash award of USD 10,000, attendance at the Sundance Film Festival and creative and strategic support. The four filmmakers were given the award at a private ceremony at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah (US) by Rohit Khattar, Chairman, Mumbai Mantra, Michelle Satter, Founding Director, Feature Film Programme, Sundance Institute, and Paul Federbush, International Director, Feature Film Programme, Sundance Institute. "At a time when there is no dearth of issues around the world that are crying out to be heard, the Global Filmmaking award recognises independent filmmakers who give expression to those voices," Anand Mahindra, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group, said in a statement. "The Mahindra Group is proud to assist the Sundance Institute in this endeavour, which, in line with the Group`s `Rise` philosophy, aims to drive a positive change in communities across the world," he added. Congraluating the four winners, Khattar said, "These are exciting times for Independent Cinema in India and across the world. We feel privileged to help support Sundance Institute in its mission of nurturing and honing emerging talent."  In its fourth year, the Sundance Institute-Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award is part of a multifaceted collaboration that exemplifies a commitment and support to world cinema by the Mahindra Group and the Sundance Institute. Veteran Hollywood actor-producer Robert Redford, who is President and Founder of Sundance Institute, said the partnership nurtures future generation of storytellers. "India is one of the most extraordinary cultures in the world, with the support of Anand Mahindra and his group, Sundance Institute screenwriters' lab can support the next generation of their storytellers," Redford added. The nomination committee for the Indian Award winner included prominent names from Indian cinema like Sharmila Tagore, Anjum Rajbali, Boman Irani, K Hariharan, Rajkumar Hirani, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Ira Bhaskar. The Sundance-Mahindra Group's collaboration also includes the Mumbai Mantra Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab in India, which provides an annual opportunity for eight screenwriters from India to develop their works under the guidance of accomplished international screenwriters.