Award-winning filmmaker Shred Shreedhar’s animated short Reena Ki Kahaani which talks about human trafficking wins Best Animation award at Mumbai International Film Festival 2022. Made for all age groups, the short is based on a real-life incident.
Directed by Shreedhar, animation and creative direction was done by Ashish Wagh and PS Jayahari took care of the music. The 10minutes animated short film was released on Shred Creative Lab’s YouTube Channel and other social media handles on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2021.
“Another Milestone! Official Selection and Winner for Best Animation at the Mumbai International Film Festival 2022 ~ Reena Ki Kahaani, a short animation film based on the true story of entrapment, rescue and survival highlighting the evils of human trafficking. Thank you all for your love and support,” Shred Creative Lab shared on their official social media handle.
“Reena ki Kahaani is not just any animation film. It’s a story that speaks of a dismal reality of human trafficking. Its screening at numerous schools across the country, selection at film festivals coupled with awards is but a recognition of its message that needs to travel far and wide. Being informed is one step towards making our lives secure,” Shred Creative Lab director Shreedhar told AnimationXpress.
Earlier, in an email interview he had shared about the film’s inspiration and other experiences.
“Reena Ki Kahaani is based on the true story of Reena (name changed), a survivor of human trafficking. She got sold into the market of flesh trade on grounds of false promises only to be rescued later by Vihaan, the anti human trafficking NGO,” Shreedhar said.
They chose ‘folk as an art style to connect to the region from where the story originated’. It helped in making the story of Reena Ki Kahaani more relatable.
About choosing animation as a medium, Shreedhar mentioned, “Animation as a format is visually appealing to children as well as adults. The purpose was for the film and its message to reach out to not only adults and caregivers but children as well; so a difficult topic was made palatable for all age groups through an animated film so that the dangers are understood.”
Congratulations to the entire team on the win!