Indiacsr News Network
Mumbai: YES! i am the CHANGE has emerged as the largest filmmaking challenge in India and one of the biggest short-filmmaking movements in the world, with 1750+ films made by over 50,000 citizen filmmakers from 1,000 cities and towns across all states of India. The films were made on current issues of national importance including women’s safety, child rights and education, livelihood, environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment and elderly care.
YES! i am the CHANGE, a social youth movement, initiated by YES FOUNDATION, the social development arm of YES BANK, ignites the spirit of driving positive social change amongst the youth through exposure to various social causes while creating invaluable communication resources for Not-for-Profits (NGOs).
At 6 a.m. on August 15, topics on social issues were allocated to the filmmakers who then had 101 hours to shoot, edit and submit their films. Over 1750 completed film entries were received. They form part of an open repository of films for use of Not-for-Profits in awareness generation and resource mobilisation.
The top films will b
e selected by India’s iconic filmmakers including Vikramaditya Motwane, Director, Udaan and Lootera; Shoojit Sircar, Director, Vicky Donor; Pritish Nandy, film producer and journalist, Kailash Surendranath, veteran ad filmmaker, Guneet Monga, Producer, Gangs of Wasseypur and the Lunchbox amongst others. The winners will be awarded total filmmaking grants of up to INR 25 lakh to make films on social causes.
Rana Kapoor, Chief Mentor, YES FOUNDATION said, “YES! i am the CHANGE is an opportunity for the youth to actively contribute to India’s social transformation. In today’s digital era, a short film on a developmental issue can trigger great social action. This year, we inspired and empowered over 72.5 million youthto contribute to social impact in India.Prerana Langa, CEO, YES FOUNDATION said, “We are delighted with the overwhelming response from the youth across the country.
YES! i am the CHANGE has truly emerged as a national movement with participation from all corners of the country. Through YES! i am the CHANGE, we have endeavoured to ignite the spirit of driving positive social change among the youth and connect them to social causes. ”
“I am very excited to be a part of YES! i am the CHANGE and look forward to interacting with the participants and hopefully seeing some wonderful films made by them.” said Vikramaditya Motwane, Filmmaker and Jury member
“Films should always strive to ignite and open up social dialogue.
Most of the films I have championed are polemic and definite powder keg for active conversation. Films can drive change. The medium is powerful and can travel cutting across barriers of caste, creed and generations. This project is a unique initiative towards connecting the film enthusiast youngistan to support social causes.
I am very excited to be a part of this initiative and look forward to watching ‘stories of change’ the youth will capture during the 101-hour film making challenge” shared Guneet Monga, Filmmaker and Jury member “Most exciting and thrilling 101 hours we had! Taking part in this is itself a prize. So we’re all winners” said Kshitij Choudhary, Participant, YES! i am the CHANGE 2014“Filmmaking is a wonderful experience but the joy of filming for a social cause is priceless” shared Sandeep Roy, Participant, YES!i am the CHANGE 2014“Malnutrition has always been an issue close to my conscience. But, if we had to challenge a huge problem like malnutrition, then we needed mass appeal.
This is when a friend suggested I participate in YES! i am the CHANGE filmmaking challenge. So, with two friends, no filmmaking skills but high on intentions, we made the film. The filmmaking challenge did live up to its name. Acting, shooting, helping other actor in remembering script, driving, voice recording all at the same time was indeed a challenge for the team. But, all the hard work was worth it as we got good feedback on our efforts and also promise of support from a known ad agency” said Yasmin Mulla, Participant, YES! i am the CHANGE 2014ABOUT YES FOUNDATION:YES FOUNDATION is the social development arm of YES BANK and works towards a vision of an empowered and equitable India.
It focuses on stimulating entrepreneurship and innovative use of media initiatives for social transformation, to enable India’s inclusive growth and development.
