SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival

Dastaar

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:36:16 +0000

This video was created just in time for the younger generation to tell them the importance of Dastaar (Turban)

Directed by:	Miss Kaur (Age: 26 or older)
Location:	Undisclosed
Length:	2 min, 49 seconds

2009 Film Festival Winners Announced

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:40:57 +0000

The judging process was especially difficult this year because of the quality of the films, which is improving each year.The panel of judges watched every film, most more than once, and marked them each on Creativity (originality,) Message (Was the film inspiring and/or uplifting? Did it communicate the filmmaker’s message clearly?) and Technical Execution (videography, editing, post production, etc.) Although there was often a clear first place winner in a category, the race between the second and third place films was often very close and the judges enthusiastically discussed the merits of the films in contention for those awards.

SikhNet considers every one of these films a winner in its own way, however today, Friday, October 2nd, SikhNet has announced the official winners.

View the Film Festival Award Results

D.A.R.E.

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:06:31 +0000

The film is a spoof on the classic anti-drug commercials. It is a short public service announcement letting the public know what sorts of results to expect when interacting with the Guru. Viewer be notified; Getting "on" the Guru could rewrite your destiny.

Directed by:	Sat Kirtan Kaur Khalsa Ji (Age: 24)
Location:	Pacific Palisades, CA – USA
Length:	2 min, 23 seconds

Reaching For Home

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:29:30 +0000

Reaching For Home is an experimental short that explores a fictional tragedy from the 1984 Sikh Genocide. The film follows the unconscious thought of a deceased Sikh man as he recalls the moment’s before his demise. Fusing stock footage with shot footage, the film is tied together with the brilliant music of Australian composer Balvinder Singh.

Directed by:	Jasmeet Singh Bansal (Age: 22)
Location:	Easton, PA – USA
Length:	7 min, 11 seconds

Razza

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:35:39 +0000

This video is about a Frenchman Michael Rudel who adopted Sikhism and became Darshan Singh. He renounced his French nationality as a protest against French government which don’t allow Sikhs to wear turban in France. Now, he is a farmer ,doing organic farming near Anandpur Sahib (Punjab). From this video we want to show that how great is Sikhi that a person from west adopted it ,but unfortunately our own generation is giving away their Sikh identity.

Honorable Mention for SikhNet "Most Unique Documentary Topic" award

Directed by:	Pardeep Singh, GaganDeep Singh (Age: 19)
Location:	Mohali, Punjab – India
Length:	16 min, 33 seconds

Marrying a Turban

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:22:53 +0000

Marrying a Turban is a short photostory depicting the current mindset of a section of Sikh females who have developed an affinity towards “clean shaven Sikh men”. The idea behind this story has evolved from online discussions on various forums and it should not be stereotyped to the entire section of Sikh Females.

Honorable Mention for SikhNet "Hot Topic" award

Directed by:	Jasdeep Singh (Age: 26 or older)
Location:	Chandigarh, Punjab – India
Length:	6 min, 30 seconds

Justice & Hope

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:05:10 +0000

This film explores the continued and essential desire of Sikhs for Justice

Remember, Sikhs have sacrificed their lives for freedom over many generations.
Remember, Sikhs defend the defenseless, this is a key ethic.

We need to remember the genocide that took place in June and November 1984. The Sikh genocide like the Jewish genocide has to be remembered year on year to ensure that to honour the lives of innocent victims and ensure that such a situation never happens again.

Hope is important for a better tomorrow.
Together we can work towards reconciliation, charities for those who continue to struggle and improving our understanding of each other.

2nd place competition winner in 2009
for age group 26 or older

Directed by:	Dr Savi S Arora (Age: 26 or Older)
Location:	London, Middlesex – United Kingdom
Length:	12 min, 25 seconds

Mythbusters…with Masala

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:00:50 +0000

If you want to masala it up with me and Lara then you’ve come to the right place. Here we serve a wide selection of laughs, utter lameness and the truth about being who you are.

2nd place competition winner in 2009
for age group 11-17

Directed by:	Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa (Age: 15)
Location:	Perth, Western Australia – Australia
Length:	9 min, 12 seconds

Apna Mool Pehchaan

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:28:01 +0000

"If a man is a gursikh he can make one home
gursikh, but if a woman is a gursikh, she can
make the generation gursikh……."

Its the story about self realization of a mother.

2nd place competition winner in 2009
for age group 18-25

Directed by:	Tripta Kaur (Age: 25)
Location:	Chennai, Tamil Nadu – India
Length:	17 min, 16 seconds

Through the Ashes

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:23:29 +0000

“Through the Ashes” is a documentary within a documentary chronicling 15 days of journeying through the importance of asking the question “Why?” and discovering the impact of incorporating meaning into aspects of Sikhi such as gender equality, standing out, and in this movie in particular—the meaning and importance of maintaining the Sikh Identity. After 2,500 miles of searching for answers, gathering the ideas of Sikhs and Non-Sikhs alike, and feeling the overwhelming kindness and hospitality of Sikhs in DC, a friend in Philadelphia, and busy filmmakers in NYC, I realized that yes, we must look for the answer, however we should not be discouraged if it seems we are not finding answers, because there is much to be learned by the journey itself.

1st place competition winner in 2009
for age group 18-25

Directed by:	Harjus Singh (Age: 21)
Location:	Cincinnati, Ohio – USA
Length:	25 min

MERI kAHANI

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:39:15 +0000

"Meri kahani" is a story of a sikh young guy that how he grows up..(Inder). it really was a nice expereince making my own documentary film. It took about 2-3 days as scanning of pics.. selection of songs and synchronization was requied.. but overall i enjoyed it…

Directed by:	Arvinder Singh (Inder) (Age: 19)
Location:	Naraingarh, Haryana – India
Length:	3 min, 20 seconds

Rabb Taan Vekh Reha

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:36:51 +0000

This is my first attempt at film making and it is a small simple story that tells so much about how we act as if God is not present in our lives and everywhere.

Directed by:	Gulsher Singh Bal (Age: 26 or older)
Location:	Vernon Hills, UL – United States
Length:	7 min, 28 seconds

Mann Jitae Jagg Jeet

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:15:24 +0000

In the leap year, of 2008, young Sikhs leaped, yet many failed to even take few steps.
A brief introduction to the background:
In 2008, young Sikhs, together, once again attended the Gurmat Camp in July, where each young participant was enlisted into a Jatha, respectively, for various activities and regulation purposes. The well-organized Gurmat camp, with Veerjis from the SNSM (Malaysia) and youths from Bangkok as well, ensured that one had come to connect, learn, enjoy, and importantly grow to be a good Sikh citizen. Although the camp had a very convenient timeline, there was yet another event that stood a convincing obstacle in the path of this fruitful experience, which was the concert of the famous R&B artist, Akon. It was this fallacious event that created reluctance amongst people that the Gurmat Camp was more imperative. Since many young people chose to attend Akon’s concert over the samelan, our Jatha came up with the brainchild of making a video related to the current situation that needed more attention that one thought.

I, Chaetan Saheb, as the Jatha leader and director, on behalf of Nidhaan Jatha, hope that you will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed while we enacting it and cherishing it till date.

Directed by:	Chaetan Saheb Singh Sethi (Age: 20)
Location:	Pattaya, Cholburi – Thailand
Length:	17 min, 30 seconds

Amritvela Sach Naao Vadiaai Vichaar

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:01:23 +0000

Directed by:	Devinder Singh & Group (Age: 25)
Location:	Melbourne, Victoria – Australia
Length:	10 min, 51 seconds

Summer Solstice 2008

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:32:18 +0000

I love summer solstices and have attended two for the last 3 years. i made this movie to show someone who never have been at summer solstice what it’s about.

3rd place competition winner in 2009
for age group 26 or older

Directed by:	Ek Ong Kar Kaur (Age: 26 or older)
Location:	Valley Village, CA – USA
Length:	25 min, 44 seconds

Manisha – Daughter of Destiny

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:10:43 +0000

Manisha – Daughter of Destiny” is a poetic documentary that tells us about a poor living girl living in the remotest hills of Himalyas who is suffering from a disease known as "CleftLip." From nowhere a ray of hope emerges in the form of Free Medical Camp from a place known as "Baru Sahib".

Shooting this documentary was a great relax to the mind. In this selfish world there are people who work for the benefit of others without having any selfish material.

Directed by:	Guneet Singh (Age: 22)
Location:	New Delhi, Delhi – India
Length:	6 min, 48 seconds

Hola Mohalla 2009

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:41:38 +0000

THE BIGGEST HOLA MOHALA EVENT OUTSIDE OF PUNJAB!
Held in the UK by the Sikh School of Martial Arts: Shin-Kin:
-over 200 fighters – men, women and children nationwide
-7 different competitions! – semi contact, full contact, one touch wrestling, freestyle wrestling, kicks only, weaponry & archery
-100 categories – from girls under 6 to ladies over 30, boys under 5 to men over 30
-10th Tournament for Hola Mohala running since 1983

Directed by:	Jatinder Kaur, Navpreeth Kaur (Age: 22)
Location:	Wolverhampton, West Midlands – UK
Length:	13 min, 19 seconds

Sikh’s Right To Serve

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:22:22 +0000

A brief look at the current situation with Sikhs not being allowed to serve in the military and a strong counter argument.
I interviewed the two Sikhs who were denied their right to serve as well as The Sikh Coalition. The Sikh Coalition is the law firm currently raising awareness about the issue and fighting for them.

Directed by:	Anhad Singh (Age: 20)
Location:	Cupertino, CA – USA
Length:	4 min, 24 seconds

Langar – Vand Chakna. Is the meaning lost?

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:13:01 +0000

Based on the real life experience of an international student coming to study in the UK, this video depicts some of the pleasant and some not so pleasant experiences that he has on visiting the local Gurudwara. While he is more than overwhelmed to meet the Western Sikhs and is highly impressed with the devotion that they have towards the religion but he does find out some unpleasant practices on his regular visits to the Gurudwara.
The intention of this video is purely to bring out such issues to the wider Sikh community about some of the practices related to the serving of Langar at some of the Gurudwaras. This is in no way a criticism of the management committee or the local people attending the services at the Gurudwara. Having said that we still feel there is still a huge opportunity for Sikhs to actually use the beautiful institution of Langar to actually spread the message of Selfless Service and Vand Chakna with the wider non-Sikh world around.
We might have said something unreasonable or critical in our video, for which we beg your pardon. Please ignore our mistakes as ignorant youth who have started taking interest in Sikhi and have yet to learn a lot. Hope this effort of ours serves it purpose of actually putting this idea across to the revered Sadh Sangat and makes Sikhs’ think about it.

Directed by:	Baldip Singh & GauravGeet Singh (Age: 25)
Location:	Bradford, West Yorkshire – UK
Length:	19 min, 18 seconds

Lifeline

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:31:53 +0000

“Lifeline” is a documentary that creates awareness about the people not living in a very good condition, in the remotest areas of himachal. The documentary inform everybody right form the beneficiaries to the benefiters that there is a place called ‘Baru Sahib’ in the himachal which is developing in order to serve people especially villagers living in the remote areas who are not well and are infected with many diseases from which they need to be cured. At this place huge medical camp is organized by the Kalgidhar Society free of cost, in order to serve the society for their benefit as well as to make the place healthy.

Shooting this documentary was a great relax to the mind. In this selfish world there are people who work for the benefit of others without having any selfish material. There are the doctors who spend some time with the patients just not to give treatment of the disease but also to raise their inner satisfaction.

Directed by:	Abhishek Jain (Age: 22)
Location:	New Delhi – India
Length:	7 min, 58 seconds

Teach The Kids

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:24:26 +0000

I hope that this film motivates people to imbibe and inculcate Sikh Values in themselves and the generations to come. This is my first attempt at making a video and I must have made a lot of mistakes. Please do let me know the faults and I sincerely apologise for them. "If I stop learning, I cease to be a Sikh"

Directed by:	Puneet Singh (Age: 19)
Location:	Chandigarh, Punjab – India
Length:	5 min, 47 seconds

The Ten Masters

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:09:59 +0000

[Music from RDB - Rhythm Dhol Bass, and NS Chauhan]

This videos shows the whole information about ten master, and guru granth sahib ji….in this movie i’ve added the pictures over the song "Ten Masters"…..must watch…..very knowlegable……
waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh….

Directed by:	Harmeet Singh (Age: 22)
Location:	New Delhi, Delhi – India
Length:	9 min, 10 seconds

Story of Turban

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:09:57 +0000

This is an anonymous entry. It’s a story of the turban in first person from the turban’s perspective.

TimeSikh

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:52:05 +0000

In the distant future, the world’s top secret agent is asked to go on a most peculiar mission: Find information on Sikhi and help save his world with that knowledge. What James Singh did not expect was a vastly unique and different past. Will he be able to save his time and world with the help of his trusted allies (Dr. No and ChaCha8), or will he be forever trapped in time?

Directed by:	Abhijeet Singh Sekhon (Age: 9)
Location:	Union City, California – USA
Length:	8 min, 31 seconds

The Scott and Drake Show

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:44:52 +0000

Hi! My name is Harjit Singh. I live in Perth, Western Australia. Being a practicing Sikh living in a western country, I have had the pleasure of explaining my religion to curious people since I could talk and had a little joora! On innumerable occasions of explaining about the Sikh Gurdwara, I have had a common reaction of “REALLY?! You mean ANYONE can come in to your temple/Gurdwara?” This is usually followed by “Is there anything special you have to do to come in?” As my Sikh brothers and sisters know, there are only really two simple rules when going to the Gurdwara. In this video my two best friends Scotty and Drake find out…

Directed by:	Harjit Singh (Age: 21)
Location:	Perth, Western Australia – Australia
Length:	3 min, 9 seconds

Sugar Balloon Busted

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:12:52 +0000

We were successfully able to complete this seva with the blessings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj Nirankar Sache Patshah Ji. This film is about the contamination of various apparent vegetarian food items, particularly sugar. The film also looks at the consequences for faith-based vegetarians from a spiritual perspective.

Directed by:	Darwesh Singh & Amolak Singh (Age: 13)
Location:	St. Paul, Minnesota – USA
Length:	24 min, 59 seconds

Outlaw

admin — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:11:12 +0000

The movie concept was inspired by true events from 18th century Sikh history. In the Memory of the Khalsa who endured the turbulent regime of the 1700s in South Asia. For the freedom of the Panth today and thereafter.

Honorable Mention for SikhNet "Technical Merit" Award
(excellence in videography and post production)

Directed by:	Jatinder Kaur & Navpreeth Kaur (Age: 22)
Location:	Wolverhampton, West Midlands – UK
Length:	26 min, 49 seconds

Kivein Bhullaan (How can we forget?)

admin — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:10:02 +0000

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the, 1984 Sikh Genocide, we are presenting this movie in the memory of the sons and daughters of the Sikh Nation who lost their lives in a ruthless massacre that has disturbed the psyche of every Sikh connected with his or her religious roots.

By presenting the movie “Kivein Bhullaan”, by presenting the movie “Kivein Bhullaan”, we, your children, have made a humble attempt to connect ourselves with the silent and painful struggle of Sikh nation towards justice.

The movie “Kivein Bhullaan” express the pain inflicted on the Sikh nation by the 1984 holocaust. Although the characters shown in this video are not real, they truly represent what the Sikh nation experienced during the genocide. This story is about a Sikh woman named Gian Kaur who experienced both the June attack on the Golden Temple and the anti-Sikh pogroms of November 1984. She lost all of her family except her daughter in law Gurleen when Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to attack Akal Takhat and Darbar Sahib. Six months later, in November of 1984, she also lost Gurleen. We are going to present the condition of Gian Kaur’s life after the events of June and November 1984. How she has been affected by the murder of her father, son and grandson in the Harmandar Sahib complex and by the gang-rape and scorching of her daughter-in-law during the November anti-Sikh pogroms, both of which she witnessed with her very eyes.

Although we cannot see any hope, and this night of atrocities and suffering does not seem to end, the our rich heritage built by Guru Sahibs and Sikh ancestors give us the message of Charhdikala and Sarbat Da Bhala (High Spirit and Goodwill of All).

1st place competition winner in 2009
for age group 11-17

Directed by:	Japman Kaur (Age: 12) & Triman Singh (Age: 9)
Location:	Windsor, Ontario – Canada
Length:	23 min, 51 seconds

Reasons

admin — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:08:52 +0000

This movie talks about the differnt reasons people give for cutting their hair.

Directed by:	Gujinder Singh (Age: 26 or older)
Location:	Sydney, NSW – Australia
Length:	1 min, 43 seconds

Anand Sahib Path

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:11:31 +0000

Multi Camera technique

Directed by:	Rajinder Singh Singh (Age: 26 or older)
Location:	New Delhi, Delhi – India
Length:	3 min, 49 seconds

Way To Sikhi

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:01:16 +0000

I have tried to put all my thoughts which I experienced till this age. I made this to share my experience with others. How the life proceeds and finally reaches it’s destination.

Directed by:	Harmandeep Kaur (Age: 24)
Location:	Cincinnati, Ohio – USA
Length:	4 min 54 seconds

The Guru’s Sikh

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:58:56 +0000

This video is about about the Gurus and Sikhs Interpretation of Sikhism.

Directed by:	Sukhjoot Singh (Age: 16)
Location:	Falls Church, Virginia – USA
Length:	18 min 11 seconds

84 Plus 25

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:38:32 +0000

This is the movie about a kid knowing about 1984 Sikh genocide in New delhi and gets very disturbed about the fact that in 25 years noting has been changed, no justice for Sikhs.

Directed by:	Kirat Singh Shahi (Age: 12)
Location:	Union City, CA – USA
Length:	5 min

Virsa (Culture)

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:24:22 +0000

In today’s fast paced world we have forgotten to tell our golden history to our younger generation. This university level prize winner video is aimed to awaken us by showing a glimpse from our past!

Directed by:	Prabhpreet Singh (Age: 22) (On behalf of – Divine Circle, Divinity Society of Guru Tegh Bahadur Institute of Technology, Delhi)
Location:	Delhi – India
Length:	25 min

Khalsa Warrior

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:02:55 +0000

Khalsa Warrior is a home made animation which takes us into the past where jungle rule exists. The people of a village are killed by the emperor’s army and when Khalsa Warrior sees it he takes revenge

Directed by:	Ashampreet Singh (Age: 25)
Location:	Mohali, Punjab – India
Length:	2 min, 40 seconds

Ik Dard Bhari Dastaan

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:51:56 +0000

We are a small group of Students and Engineers working for the upliftment of Sikhligar (metal worker Sikhs) Children in Pune India. We believe that only Gurmat da channan and Education can bring a change in the lives of these kids. Just a handful of Gursikhs can make difference to so many lives, we can only dream what if the whole Sikh Panth realize the situation of this community and embrace them with Gurus name in their heart.

We all have to come together and work according to the phrase:
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime” Also, please understand that a long term sewa is the only way to help our Bothers and Sisters to come out of their present state.

Organizations working for this cause.
http://www.akharsoh.org
http://www.guruangaddev.org
http://www.nishkam.org/services.aspx?catg=22
http://www.sochnet.com
http://www.forgottensikhs.com/Organisation.htm

Feel free to E Mail us at daman.ss@gmail.com or info@guruangaddev.org

Best Regards
Daman Preet Singh and Tarandeep Kaur.

Directed by:	Daman Preet Singh & Tarandeep Kaur [with the support of Guru Angad Dev Educational and Welfare Council] (Age: 24 and 20)
Location:	Pune, Maharashtra – India
Length:	15 min, 20 seconds

Gur Sikh Meet Chalho Gur Chali

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:06:36 +0000

     A gursikh shares such a spiritual bond with the Guru, that even death can’t separate the two. Unfortunately, today we have blatantly undermined this relation.
     Sikh boys today go for fair complexion and mere physical beauty, sikh girls also look for smart, handsome cut surds. In this dark age of kalyug, can we rejuvenate the Guru-sikh relation? Can we revive the ethos of Anand Kaaraj as a spiritual bondage?
     Film made by SOCH group (Sikh Organization In Care of Humanity). http://sochnet.com

3rd place competition winner in 2009
for age group 18-25
(award money donated to upliftment of Sikligar Sikhs and other needy in Hyderabad)

Directed by:	Raminder and Randeep (SOCH group) (Age: 23)
Location:	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh – India
Length:	20 min, 45 seconds

Five Thieves

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:28:09 +0000

Hello,
My idea is create about 5 separate films each about 1 minute long. The first segment which I am sending to you know is called Five Thieves. For the purposes of this contest, I may make them into one single film (dependant on what you recommend). But the reason why I have decided to make each one a minute long is because I want it to be a quick grabber where people (who may know nothing about Sikhi) can soak in some information. I have started 2 of the 5. Currently only one is totally finished and that is the one I have uploaded. I read the thing about the prize, and about sending in a quick video to show you. I have been wanting to enter the contest for the last 2 years but last year I was in Germany. I made this video I am sending you now a while back, and is not something that I have roughly put together as you will see when you watch it.

The first of the five videos is called ‘Five Thieves’ and is designed to be a informative and useful video. I am also considering doing a videos on the Nirmala Sikhs, Akali Nihangs, and Sewapanthis. I am currently in my final year of university so I am quite busy for the next month, with completing my dissertation. I hope that I will have enough time to complete this project.

I am also a artist and you can see my other works at www.MrMessy.com and ranbassi.deviantart.com

The image which I have attached my ID image from my art website. If you don’t think its applicable, let me know and I can send you another one.

Directed by:	Ranvir Singh Bassi(Age: 21)
Location:	Coventry, West Midlands – UK
Length:	1 min, 14 seconds

Crowning Glory Of Turban. East meets West

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:48:57 +0000

Crowning Glory Of Turban. An awareness on turban was created in Luiss university,Rome,Italy where in students participated in numbers and got a taste of cultural heritage from India.
It was a moment of wonderful feeling of sharing the cultural heritage in one of the reputed universities in Rome, Italy when on 28th April 2009, an occasion on Turban was marked to bring awareness on the cultural heritage from the region of Punjab, India. The day started with incessant rain which was thought to be a mood spoiler but it proved out to be blessing in disguise as the original open location was shifted to one of the largest rooms of the University at Viale Romania. Luiss Guido Carli is a famous international university of Rome where students from many different corners of the world come to attend undergraduate, graduate and post graduate courses. It is also one of the most expensive universities known for its superb, state-of-the-art facilities for its students.

This experience helped me a lot in making this useful video.

Directed by:	Harpreet Singh (Age: 25)
Location:	Rome, Lazio – Italy
Length:	10 min, 46 seconds

Apni Maa Boli

admin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:09:02 +0000

This video was created especially for the younger generation to show them that they need to keep our mother tongue "Punjabi" alive

3rd place competition winner in 2009
for age group 11-17

Directed by:	Darshbir Kaur (Age: 17)
Location:	Brampton, Ontario – Canada
Length:	14 min, 36 seconds