2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

The film shows a story of connection & empathy between two girls - whose friendship across cultures & faiths expresses a shared humanity & a united future. It starts in the home of a Western family with the mother preparing a lunchbox for her daughter. Following by the natural and habitual journey of the daughter to school and unpacks and builds the story of her friendship with her friend from the Middle Eastern region. The film shows their cheekiness, character and the depth of their relationship in a charming series of moments. The film ends on a surprising twist when it becomes apparent that the Western girl has secretly removed her lunch from her lunchbox (at home without her mother realizing) in solidarity, respect and connection with her best friend who is fasting during Ramadan.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

During the Ramadan period, the Muslim world follows 30 days of fasting from sunrise to sunset. At schools across the globe today we see integration of multiple faiths and cultures and the relationships between Muslim and non-Muslim children sharing school days, and therefore lunch time, when some are fasting and some are not. In an increasingly connected and aware society our youth are more accepting and united than ever before but it is still rare for non-Muslims to fast in solidarity to their Muslim counterparts. This film shows a surprising story of a young Westerner who wants to join her best friend in observing the fast during school days as a sign of connection and compassion towards her friend’s faith. This is deeply resonant across geographical borders worldwide.

Tell the jury anything relevant about the direction. Do not name the director.

The approach was to ensure the action was captured from the POV of the girls, with close ups, and medium-wide angles to capture context in most natural form. The camera’s were held on the girls eye-level, as if seeing the world through their eyes. The director ensured the girls were brought together in person a day early to shop and ‘hang out’ together so that they could perform naturally as real friends on shoot day. By the time the girls were filmed their camaraderie was authentic.  There was no script for this film. The script heard in the final film was filmed live by the girls without direction or request - as was the final hug. The direction was created to produce a film that is real, wondrous and subjective. By making the story subjective, director allowed the viewer to immerse into the world of the characters more deeply.