Drik film wins at prestigious Jackson Wild Festival 2023
The Indo-Bangladesh co-produced documentary film "Goni" has received the top award in the Global Voices section of the prestigious Jackson Wild Media Awards 2023.
Produced by Drik Picture Library in Bangladesh and Untamed Planet in India, the film highlights the plight of Bangladeshi migrants who work in the construction industry in the Middle East. Winners were announced during the Grand Teton Awards Gala on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Jackson Wild Summit in Grand Teton National Park.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The executive producers were Drik's managing director and National Geographic Explorer at Large Shahidul Alam and National Geographic explorer Malaika Vas, who also directed the film.
"Goni" includes documentation in Bangladeshi migrant homes as well as the effect of climate change upon Bangladeshis living in vulnerable conditions. It also includes footage of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar as well as previously unrecorded underground coverage of the living conditions of migrants in Qatar.
The Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in science and nature storytelling. The 2023 submissions included over 1100 category entries from over 74 different countries. Finalists were selected by more than 200 international judges who together screened over 1,200 hours of media.
"We are deeply honoured to receive this award at the Jackson Wild Media Awards. 'Goni' represents the hard work, dedication, and passion of our talented team who have tirelessly strived to create a film that not only entertains but also educates and inspires viewers about the plight of migrant workers, a mainstay of the Bangladesh economy. This recognition serves as a reminder of our responsibility to ensure that the rights of the millions of workers who take great risks and endure inhuman conditions to send remittance home" said Shahidul Alam, the managing director of Drik and the film's co-executive producer.
The film was initiated by Drik in December 2021 in Qatar and initial research was followed by filming in Bangladesh. Untamed Planed joined in July 2022 and further filming took place in Bangladesh and Qatar. The film is told through the eyes of Abdul Goni, a former migrant worker who now works as a photojournalist at the Daily ittefaq. "Goni" also won the top award in the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest 2023, organised by Drik.
The other finalists in the Global Voices section included "Keepers of the Land" Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation with Moonfish Media Inc., "Nkashi: Race for the Okavango" by National Geographic Society Impact Story Lab and "The Elephant Whisperers" a Netflix Documentary and Sikhya Entertainment Production.
Considered the highest bar of achievement in natural history filmmaking, the Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in nature, science, and conservation storytelling. It is a forum for Innovation where diverse and passionate storytellers come together to share bold new ideas that push the frontiers of storytelling about nature, science and conservation.
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