Million Eyes film Festival awards were given away at the 30th Anniversary program of the HopeSociety on 9th of December by the Claretian Fathers that has been working for the marginalisedgroups in the society.

Short film named ‘THEIA’ was selected for first prize at the ‘Million Eyes’ International Short Film Festival conducted by Project Vision, one of the projects under Hope Society working for the visually challenged persons. Director Jithin George received the award and cash prize of Rs. 100,000 at the function conducted at Project Vision premises on Sunday evening. THEIA

is a heart rendering message of a young girl who gets the chance to become a successful photographer after receiving her sight through eye donation from an unknown person.

The second Award of Rs. 50,000 was awarded to ‘Vizhili’ directed by Alex Rajan which beautifully presented the story of a little girl who wondered why her close friend was not sharing her eyes with her.

The third prize of Rs. 25,000 was awarded to Rajesh Kalbhor directed short film ‘Through My Eyes’. This presented the struggle of a mother who could not see her new born child.

The awards were given by globally acclaimed film directors Dr Shaison Ouseph and Mr Ryon Lobo, who were part of a global jury for the selection of the best film. They did the selection from a total of 115 entries to the short film competition from across the country.

The theme for MILION EYES festival was eye donation and the objective of the festival was to spread the message of eye donation to one million people. It was part of the eye donation movement initiated by the Bangalore based organisation called Project Vision which completed five years of its work. The program also felicitated all those were part of this eye donation movement. Project Vision of the part of the Hope Society started 30 years ago by the Claretians, working for various marginalised groups like those affected by HIV/AIDS, disabilities, disasters and addictions.

Hope Society was started by the students of Claretian Seminary in the year 1988 under the leadership of Fr George Kannanthanam. It developed into six projects over the years with Hope Recovery centre in Belgaum for treatment of alcoholics, Support Centres in Bangalore and Belgaum for HIV/AIDS affected persons, Project Vision for visually challenged persons, Bangalore Cares for Nepal for the victims of those affected by earthquake in Nepal and Bangalore Cares for Kerala for the flood affected persons.

Fr George Kannanthanam, said that there are three million visually challenged persons who could get sight again through eye donation in India. Various creative programs like Million Eyes and Blindwalk are organised across the country to inspire more people for eye donation.

V Pad was the partner for the Million Eyes initiative.