Community Channel celebrates Indian filmmakers

BBC presenter, Tina Daheley, is celebrating young Indian filmmakers by presenting new television series ��India Unplugged�۪ on the Community Channel this month.

India Unplugged is a three-part series showcasing nine films from young Indian filmmakers that explore the rich human stories shaping one of the world’s most diverse and captivating countries – India.

Taking a deeper look into the subcontinent, the three-part series, narrated by the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast News and Sport presenter, takes the viewer on a journey through a nation developing at an unprecedented pace whilst simultaneously trying to maintain their millennia of tradition.

India Unplugged is part of Community Channel�۪s Global360 Challenge, which asked 18-25 year olds in India to tell stories that would surprise and open the eyes of their peer group in the UK. The national television channel partnered with Cannes Chimera and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch the filmmaking contest which created films and TV shows about how India is changing, and how society, technology and aid are transforming Indian lives for the better.

The focus of the films is on people and communities whose lives have been changed by aid, and on the social entrepreneurs, technologies and initiatives that are making a real, provable difference in an India that is growing and evolving in an unparalleled way. Whilst making the films, the filmmakers were also offered mentoring support from some of India�۪s best creative directors from the film and advertising studios in Delhi and Mumbai, through Media Trust�۪s youth mentoring scheme.

The top nine films were selected by a judging panel including director and producer, Pushpinder Chowdhry, screenwriter, Farrukh Dhondy and former BBC Worldwide director, Seema Mohapatra. These films will be showcased on national television through the India Unplugged series and the winner will win a cash prize as well as an exclusive trip to the Cannes Lions Festival.

Tina Daheley said, “I�۪m extremely proud to be part of Community Channel�۪s Global360 Challenge and have the chance to support young Indian filmmakers. The films they created have made an inspiring yet informative series which tackles some of the important issues surrounding India and I�۪m delighted that Community Channel invited me to be a part of it.�۝

Alexander Kann, Director of Community Channel & Audiences, said: ���I am delighted to have this opportunity to share India Unplugged with Community Channel viewers. I was amazed by the standard of content submitted from the young Indian filmmakers as part of our Global360 Challenge. They�۪ve helped create a fantastic series that has opened my eyes to the changing landscape in India and I hope it has a similar impact on our audience.�۝

‘India Unplugged’ will broadcast on Community Channel on Monday 29th September at 10pm with the following two episodes shown at the same time each week. Community Channel is available on Freeview 63 and Freeview HD 109, Sky 539, Virgin 233, Freesat 651.