MUMBAI: Leslee Udwin’s India’s Daughter has received the audience award at The Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart in Germany.
India’s Daughter is an India-UK co-production, which tells the story of the horrific Delhi gang rape, which sent shockwaves around the world in December, 2012, and of the unprecedented protests and riots which this horrific event ignited throughout India, demanding changes in attitudes towards women.
Udwin said, “Following on the latest award India's Daughter was graced with at Biografilm Italy, we are thrilled by the news that the film was honoured with the audience award at the Indian Film Festival at Stuttgart last night. This is such a positive and welcome development especially given that it was the first Indian Film Festival, which was courageous enough to host this important film and its powerful call for global change for women and girls across the world. What is so heartening to me is that when Indians abroad see the film in screenings and festivals, they invariably comment on how surprised they are to find the film so positive about India, the protests and the enlightened male role models in the film, which far outnumber the negative male figures. Having been led by their government and their media to expect a film that shames India, they find themselves embarrassed and amazed that this film could have been banned.”
“On 5 August, 2015, the Delhi High Court will hear a petition brought by two forward-thinking individuals who are committed to democracy and a better world for women, which asks the court to lift the ban. I pray that we will have a wise and independent judge and that we can again move forward with India holding its head up high on the international stage, leading the world by example as it did in the courageous and inspiring protests against the Nirbhaya gang-rape in 20/12-13,” she added.
Since 2004, the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart has been presented by the Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg for one week in July. In 2011 the festival changed its name from Bollywood and Beyond to Indian Film Festival Stuttgart.
