The story is produced by all women producers and investors to drive awareness, helping the audience rally for tolerance and peace. This is the first feature for director Travis Hodgkins, who also adapted the script from Mirza Waheed’s New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Guardian First Book Award and the Shakti Bhat Prize.

Hodgkins says that he felt honored to be trusted with this very delicate subject matter.  He was drawn to the novel’s unique descriptions of the confusion a teenager experiences when the veil between being a child and an adult is suddenly lifted. “It’s like suddenly being lost in a storm without any heading, and the only people you can take a reckoning from are the adults around you, assuming you can trust them to guide you safely to a port. What our protagonist realizes is he can only trust himself because all around him are just as lost.”   

The film was in official competition at the 2024 San Diego International Film Festival and stars an international cast, from the United Kingdom and India. UK’s Rudi Dharmalingam (Control, The Lazarus Project, Wakefield) stars in the role of “Captain Kadian” opposite newcomer Nikhil Singh Rai, who won the role of “The Boy” after an exhaustive two-year search. Nitin Ganatra (Eastenders) in the role of Village Headman leads the ensemble cast, along with Vikram Kapadia (The Night Manager), as one of the senior Kashmiri villagers.

The film marks the second feature film collaboration this year between producers Rashaana Shah (Blowing Up Right Now, IFC’s Bollywood Hero) and Cristy Coors Beasley (The Westsiders, Lonelygirl15)

The feature is a co-production between the Republic of Georgia, India, and the USA, shot in the gorgeous Caucus mountains in Georgia. It is executive produced by MXW Ventures and CnR Films, with Chaitra Vedullapalli, Namrata Sharma, and Swetha Pakala serving as executive producers. Below the line includes award-winning Swedish cinematographer Johan Holmqvist (Springfloden), award-winning editor Jamie Kirkpatrick (Old Henry, Critical Thinking), and award-winning composer Wayne Sharpe (Resilient).

“The Collaborator” was also an official selection in the Antakya Film Festival, Turkey.

This year also marked the partnership of EP Chaitra Vedullapalli, Founder of Women In Cloud and San Diego International Film Festival to launch AI scholarships worth 2.25 million dollars for emerging filmmakers.

The post The Collaborator: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Friendship and Loss on the Kashmir Border appeared first on NRI News.

SRINAGAR: ELFA International donated a Hysteroscope Unit to Lal Ded Hospital, Srinagar with financial support from NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, NTT DATA partnered with ELFA International to support its mission of addressing the healthcare needs of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

A hysteroscopy is an essential instrument for performing minimally invasive procedures such as hysteroscopy. This procedure is crucial for diagnosing and treating intrauterine conditions, including abnormal bleeding, polyps, fibroids, and other uterine abnormalities. The availability of a hysteroscope will significantly enhance the hospital’s capability to provide high-quality care and improve patient outcomes.

The Hysteroscope Unit was handed over by the Chief Guest of the event Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah (IAS), Administrative Secretary of Health and Medical Education and Mr. Nazim Zai Khan (IAS), Mission Director of National Health Mission, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, other dignitaries presented at the occasion included Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Hakak  (JKAS), Administrator GMC and associated hospital, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Director Health Services, Kashmir,  Dr. Muzafer Jan, Medical Superintend LD Hospital, Mr. Mir Iftikhar Ahmad, Sr. Vice-President, ELFA International, Mr. Mehran Khan, CEO, ELFA International and senior team member of ELFA International.

Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah (IAS) congratulated the entire team on their accomplishment and said, “I thank ELFA International and NTT DATA for the donation of the Hysteroscope Unit to the Lal Ded Hospital Srinagar, the entire Kashmir region will benefit from this service.” He added, “ELFA International has been doing a commendable job in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Gauri Bahulkar, Sr. Director of Global Corporate Social Responsibility at NTT DATA, emphasized the company’s dedication to addressing healthcare disparities. “Enhancing healthcare access and infrastructure in underserved states across India is important to us. Our support for the great work that ELFA International has undertaken in upgrading Lal Ded Hospital is a small step towards a healthier, more equitable future. We also hope that more CSR funding will reach states like Jammu and Kashmir, where the need to improve healthcare infrastructure is urgent,” she said.

“We are delighted to join hands with a global leader like NTT DATA in our mission to improve the healthcare facilities across Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehran Khan, CEO, of ELFA International added. “Proper access to healthcare is integral to the dignity of the individual and these ambulances will enhance our ability to provide it in these remote areas.”

The post Enhancing Maternity Healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir: The Powerful Collaboration Between ELFA International and NTT DATA appeared first on NRI News.

KesarTV.com reported that this initiative marks a crucial milestone in the region’s developmental journey. Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, RR Bhatnagar, and Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary of Central Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, jointly inaugurated the scheme.

The scheme envisioned to offer accreditation, training, tool kits, certification, marketing support, and easy credit facilities, garnered praise as a pivotal step towards self-employment aligned with industrial demands. It is set to expand across other districts following its successful launch in Jammu and Kashmir.

Highlighting the significance of the scheme, Bhatnagar expressed pride in Jammu and Kashmir being at the forefront of its implementation. He underscored the Central Government’s support in realizing the vision of empowering artisans and fostering their economic independence.

The PM Vishwakarma Yojana, initiated by the central government in September of the previous year, offers artisans 5 to 7 days of basic training and 15 days or more of advanced training, accompanied by certification and ID cards. Participants also receive daily stipends and modern toolkits worth Rs. 15,000.

The launch of the scheme echoes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to the holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing its inclusion in the priority list for developmental initiatives. The implementation of the Vishwakarma scheme underscores a strong message of progress and empowerment for the region.

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