2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

Ramadan is a month of reflection and this video focuses on those smaller details of life that actually make us who we are and fuel our daily lives. This understanding of fueling does not only recharge our bodies but also the soul, and this video brings out the virtues of Ramadan in the most abstract way.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

The Holy month of Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year in Islamic culture. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world fast, abstain from distractions, and pray for a chance to get closer to God. The sights and sounds shown in the video are all typical experiences during the month of Ramadan.

Explain how the work innovatively used the film medium.

Shot within 22 hours, the video walks us through a routine of Muslim habits during the holy month of Ramadan, emphasizing the feeling of togetherness, with oneself and their environment. The whole video is shot in a unique way - the video moves from left to right in a seamlessly edited series of shots, showcasing the sights and sounds of Ramadan from dusk to dawn as the day progresses. The cannon used in the film was made from scratch as a miniature replica, using an old sawed-off gun glued together with an old set of wheels, using air spray with powder to replicate the sound and effect of firing a real cannon. We also used a unique Laowa lens to get the closeup shots with a wide-angle which you see on the Carrom board and the prayer beads. All the sounds from the video were specially composed for each scene.