Akanksha Damini Joshi

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Akanksha Damini Joshi
Akanksha Damini Joshi in Bristol, 2012
Born (1976-09-27) 27 September 1976 (age 47)
Hyderabad, India
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, cinematographer, photographer, meditation facilitator
Years active2001–present
Notable workChilika Bank$, Earth Witness, Hindu Nectar
Websitewww.daminijosh.in

Akanksha Damini Joshi is an Indian filmmaker, cinematographer, photographer and a meditation facilitator.[1][2][3]

Career[edit]

Joshi has made films on a range of topics: communal conflict, ecological crisis and spiritual philosophy. Her career began with documenting conflicts of Gujarat 2002Passengers: A Video Journey in Gujarat.[4][5] Then she took four years to make a film on ecological changes on the banks of Chilika Lake in Odisha (formerly known as Orissa) (Chilika Bank$: Stories from India's largest Coastal Lake).[6][7] She then made her film on climate change – Earth Witness: Reflections on the times and the timeless.[8] In 2014, Joshi made a film on Hindu philosophy – Hindu Nectar: Spiritual Wanderings in India,[9] inspired by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s work, for the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Joshi's short film on the river GangaGanga: Ek Prarthana, 2007 addresses the global issue of climate change through culture-specific symbolism.[10]

Filmography[edit]

Passengers (2003)[edit]

Joshi co-directed this feature length documentary during and after the 2002 Gujarat riots.[11] The film, completed in 2003, has been screened at the 9th Open Frame Festival.[12]

Five years later, Joshi came out with Profiles of Courage and Compassion, a book she co-authored with Indian activist, Harsh Mander titled, Towards Healing: Seeking Paths for Justice and Reconciliation in Gujarat.[13]

Chilika Bank$ (2008)[edit]

Joshi's first independent directorial debut came in 2008 with Chilika Bank$, in which she covers over four decades of ecological crisis in Chilika, Asia's largest Brackish water lake.[14][15][16] The film produced by Public Service Broadcasting Trust won the Livelihood Award at the CMS Vatavaran Environment and Wildlife Film Festival, New Delhi in 2009.[17] It was recipient of the First Prize at 6th Jeevika: Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival.[18][19]

For highlighting the issues surrounding Chilika, Joshi was awarded the Karamveer Puruskaar, National Award for Social Justice and Citizen Action by the confederation of NGOs, iCONGO, in partnership with United Nations.[20][21] Chilika Bank$ was screened in the Indian Panorama section of the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa 2009 in the non-feature film category.[22][23] The film was an Official Selection at the Film South Asia, Kathmandu in 2009,[24] the Rodos EcoFilms International Festival,[25] Greece in 2010 and the 4th Samsung Women's International Film Festival, Chennai in 2011.[26]

Earth Witness (2011)[edit]

Joshi's documentary on climate change, Earth Witness, reflects on climate change through the narratives of representative tribes of four different ecosystems in 2011.[27][28][29] The film has been featured in the book on the independent documentary movement in India, Filming Reality: The Independent Documentary Movement in India by Shoma A. Chatterji.[30][31][32][33][34] The book analyses notable documentaries made over the last four decades, including those by iconic film-makers such as Satyajit Ray, Mani Kaul and Anand Patwardhan.

The film won Best Film on Climate Change & Sustainable Technologies and the Best Cinematography awards at the Sixth CMS Vatavaran Environment and Wildlife Film Festival 2011.[35] It was officially nominated for the Wildscreen Panda Award 2012, Wildscreen Panda Film Festival, Bristol.[36] It was one of the three winners at the VIII Developmental Film Festival on Climate Change and Food Security, Dhan Foundation, Madurai.[37]

Hindu Nectar (2014)[edit]

Joshi's film on spiritual seekers – Hindu Nectar is produced by the Ministry of External Affairs, India.[38] Joshi was awarded with the Best Director award at the International Film Festival of Prayag.[39] Hindu Nectar has been screened at the International Festival of Yog, Culture and Spirituality, Haridwar[40] and at the 14th Open Frame Film Festival.[41][42][43]

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "ये मैं हूं:बचपन देश के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में घूमते हुए बीता, अब फिल्ममेकर, सिनेमैटोग्राफर, कहानीकार, ध्यान-सूत्रधार के किरदार निभा रही हूं" (in Hindi). Dainik Bhaskar.
  3. ^ "Filmmaker Akanksha Joshi Explores the Internal and External World of Indian Consciousness". INDICA SOFTPOWER. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  4. ^ "World View". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
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  6. ^ "Lament of a lake". Uday India. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Independence Day 2020: 28 films for 28 states". Mint. 15 August 2020.
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  20. ^ "Kajol, Pritish Nandy honoured for social work". Zee News. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  21. ^ "India's the Most Prestigious Civilian Award for Social Work – Karmaveer Puraskaar 2008 presented". Strengths Strategies Strengths Approach. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  22. ^ "List of films for IFFI's Indian Panorama announced". DECCAN HERALD. 4 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Konkani film – 'Paltadacho Munis' to open Indian Panorama of IFFI 2009". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
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  26. ^ "Samsung celebrates 4th International Women Film-Fest in Chennai". VARINDIA. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
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  39. ^ "Allahabad, ready to host 1st International Film Festival of Prayag 2015". Dumkhum. Archived from the original on 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
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  42. ^ "You Are Not the Only One: India stares at a loneliness epidemic". The Indian Express. 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  43. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News". The Tribune. 17 October 2003. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2020.