Indian student gets Commonwealth award

Avantika Hari wins 2006 Commonwealth award, set up to promote excellence in filmmaking across the Commonwealth.

An Indian post-graduate student at the London Film School has bagged the first prize in the 2006 Commonwealth Vision Awards, set up to promote excellence in filmmaking across the Commonwealth.

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Avantika Hari received the award for her film 'Hat Day', from the Earl of Wessex on Friday night at a gala ceremony held at the Royal Commonwealth Society in London attended by a host of guests from the world of diplomacy, politics and business.

Avantika's film centres on the events that take place during Hat Day at a London school.

Another Indian, Merajur Rahman Baruah, who has over twenty years experience in film production and direction, won Commended prize for his entry "Beyond the Zero Line".

Baruah's "Beyond the Zero Line", tries to portray Wagah, the border between India and Pakistan as a symbol of acceptance, reconciliation and healing.

Esther Jones, Delores Sandiford and Robert Sandiford from Barbados also won Commended award for their joint entry 'The Commonwealth - Respecting Difference, Promoting Understanding', the organizers said in release on Saturday.

Four other short-listed entries came from Ghana, Nigeria and the Fiji Islands.