Short Film ‘Anuja’ to Have World Premiere at Oscar-Qualifying deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma 

Short film “Anuja” will have its world premiere this weekend at the Oscar-qualifying 24th annual deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma. Boarded by Shine Global, non-profit production company behind Oscar and Emmy-winning documentaries, the film is also in competition for the best live-action short film. 

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) has designated deadCenter Film Festival Oscar-qualifying status in the Animated and Live Action Shorts categories.

The brainchild of the husband and wife team of Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai, “Anuja” is directed by Graves and produced by Mattai. It tells the story of an exceptionally bright 9-year-old orphan, Anuja (Sajda Pathan), who works with her 17-year-old sister Palak (Ananya Shanbhag) at a back-alley garment factory in Delhi. “When a teacher shows up at the factory, promising Anuja the rare chance to attend an elite boarding school, she finds herself facing external hurdles and inner conflict,” according to a synopsis of the film. 

Along with Pathan and Shanbhag, the film also features popular award-winning Indian television actor, Nagesh Bhonsle, best known internationally for his supporting role as police deputy commissioner Vam in “Hotel Mumbai” starring Dev Patel.

The film was developed in association with the India-based non-profit, Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), founded by Dr. Praveen Nair. After her daughter Mira Nair’s film “Salaam Bombay!” exposed the harsh conditions of children living on the streets, she was motivated to make a difference in the lives of street and working children in Delhi.

Pathan, the lead actress of the film, resides in an SBT home that provides shelter and education for girls formerly living on the street and brings her personal experience and passion for acting to the role. “Sajda is a perfect example of how, given an opportunity, most children can shine and reach unimaginable heights,” said Devika Sharma of Salaam Baalak Trust. 

Rounding out the core team are Aaron Kopp and Krushan Naik, who serve as producers on the film. Other producers include Michael Graves, Ksheetij Saini, and Alexandra Blaney, creative director, Shine Global. 

Pathan, the lead actress of the film, resides in an SBT home that provides shelter and education for girls formerly living on the street and brings her personal experience and passion for acting to the role.

“This story took shape in collaboration with the community,” Kopp said. The film “recognizes the vitality and ingenuity of two young women who, like so many kids around the world, face near-impossible odds,” he added. 

“It has been a pleasure collaborating with such talented and sensitive storytellers,” Naik said. He lauded Graves and Mattai for crafting “an entertaining and impactful tale.”

Shine Global improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories that raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. Founded in 2005 by husband and wife Albie Hecht and Susan MacLaury, their films include the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning “War/Dance” (2007) and the Oscar-winning short documentary “Inocente” (2012).

“We are proud to join ‘Anuja’ as Shine Global’s first foray into fiction film,” said MacLaury, Shine Global’s co-founder and executive director. “The themes of child labor and girl’s education are compellingly told through Graves’s and Mattai’s beautiful storytelling and the exceptional acting of Pathan, drawing from her personal experiences.”

Graves is a philosopher-turned-filmmaker, with an academic background in South Asia Studies and extensive experience working with non-profit organizations throughout India. “One in ten children are subject to child labor,” noted Graves. “We knew there was an important story here that needed to be told.  But we also wanted to capture the magic and mischievousness of childhood itself. At its heart, this is a film about the love between two sisters.”

Mattai is a multidisciplinary artist of South Asian descent whose work celebrates the power of women and explores her ancestors’ history as indentured laborers who were brought by the British colonialists to work the fields in Guyana. “It is disquieting to think that forced labor is not a thing of the past, but rather a living present for over 160 million children around the world, who, like Anuja, have to sacrifice their education and hope for a better future just to survive,” said Mattai.

In a statement, Cacky Poarch, executive director of the deadCenter Film Festival, said her team is “honored to be hosting Anuja’s world premiere.” She described the film as a “portrait of the strength, imagination, and love between two sisters.” It also “speaks to the global scope of our festival and our core mission of inspiring, promoting, and celebrating creativity and community through film,” she added. 

“Anuja” will screen at the 2024 deadCenter Film Festival on Saturday, June 8th, at 8:30 PM and Sunday, June 9th, at 11:15 AM at Harkins Theaters Bricktown in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.