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Indian President Droupadi Murmu meets makers of The Elephant Whisperers

The official Twitter handle of the President of India shared the pictures of the meet.

Indian President Droupadi Murmu meets makers of The Elephant Whisperers

Indian President Droupadi Murmu met the makers of the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers, Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga on Friday.

The official Twitter handle of the President of India shared the pictures of the meet and the caption read, "President Droupadi Murmu met the makers of Oscar-winning documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers', Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga. She congratulated them on winning the award and praised them for showcasing India's tradition of conservation and living in harmony with nature."


In one frame, Guneet and Kartiki were holding a showpiece elephant with the President.

The Oscar-winning duo met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Helmed by debutant Kartiki Gonsalves, the 41-minute short documentary movie explores the precious bond between Raghu, an orphaned baby elephant, and his caretakers - a mahout couple named Bomman and Bellie - who devote their lives to protect him from poachers and raise him.

The project, which is backed by Guneet's banner Sikhya Entertainment, beat four other contenders to clinch the statuette in the Best Documentary Short Category, making it the first Indian documentary and one of only two Indian productions to win an Oscar (the other one being 'RRR').

The Elephant Whisperers was nominated against Haul Out, How Do You Measure A Year?, The Martha Mitchell Effect, and Stranger At The Gate.

This is the second Oscar win for Guneet. She had previously served as an executive producer on Period. End of Sentence, which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film.

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British Asian filmmakers gain rare access to China’s entertainment industry at Third Shanghai London Screen Industry Forum

UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios

Instagram/ukchinafilm

British Asian filmmakers gain rare access to China’s entertainment industry at Third Shanghai London Screen Industry Forum

Highlights:

  • Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
  • Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
  • Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
  • Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
  • Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.

The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.

UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm

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