Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 286 Thu. March 17, 2005  
   
Culture


Prodigy
Arjo's film triumphs


Children are very inquisitive by nature. And if it comes to Arjo Srestha, who has donned the role of a filmmaker at the age of nine, this trait was all the more in evidence. That's why the newspaper story of a bad tempered teacher's inhumane act towards his students caught his eyes and stirred him into action. Using film as a medium to protest against this barbaric act, his commitment to establishing child rights is captured in his second short film Justice For One, Justice For All.

And to his credit, the child prodigy once again won the best children director award at the international children's and young people's film event Videotivoli in the Tampere 35th International Film Festival that took off on March 13 in Finland.

Videotivoli showcases videos made by children younger than 16 years from all the continents. This year out of 500 films, 135 films were selected, among which two films won awards. Apart from Arjo's film, 12-year-old British director Jamie also won accolades for the film 999 Emergency.

Arjo, the son of artist couple Khalid Mahmud Mithu and Kanak Chanpa Chakma, has proved his credentials in script writing, editing, music composing and cinematographing. He won several accolades before, from England, Finland and Bangladesh for his first film The Lost Love Story. His films have been displayed in many countries like USA, Canada, and a documentary on him has been made by the Finnish Television.

Picture
Arjo Srestha behind the camera