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We considered that having a theme might mean fewer entries. We worked hard to raise awareness about the theme. We invited prominent women within the Sikh community to share their thoughts about why Sikh women's stories needed to be told; why Kaur voices needed to be heard, and we were so grateful to these women when they responded to our request. Sitting in Guruka Singh's house last week, watching video after video, all of us felt deeply moved and also quite stunned. Stunned at the number of entries. Stunned at the quality of the work. Stunned at how much time, care, effort, thought and energy it took to make each one of these films. In all the time that the SikhNet OnLine Youth Film Festival has existed, we have never seen a year like this. A year filled with so many high quality entries. There is so much richness and thought in these videos. It is humbling to witness. As a young girl, I used to listen to my father, who worked as an executive in the television industry, talk about the power of media. When I grew older, I developed a critical eye towards TV shows, ad campaigns, and movies. Most people do not realize how much media shapes their perspective, their expectations of themselves and their lives along with their belief about what is possible. Year after year, decade after decade, when the same painted doll image is presented as the definition of womanhood in the media, any woman who does not match that paradigm struggles to find her place in the world. Many years ago, I realized that in order to heal the world, we needed to tell ourselves new stories. It is one thing to sit around and wish that there were different stories out there. It is another thing to witness those new stories coming to life. Out of the hearts and minds of Sikhs in India, Canada, Australia, the UK and the US, through their cameras, music and actors, a global nation is arising which has a deeply healing story to tell; a story about the power of spiritual women, women with values, women with heart, women of courage, women of faith: Women of the Guru. Kaurs! The videos range from inspirational portraits of showing how a Kaur can positively impact her family and friends, to videos about the critical issues that Kaurs face today in society. Each movie looks at a facet of the diamond that Guru Gobind Singh created when he gave every Sikh woman the right to crown herself as a princess. These films give us a treasure trove of images, heroines and ideas that reflect and depict the hearts of Sikh women. They are joyful, tearful, and soulful. I have never before seen so many minutes of Kaurs on film, taking charge, in the lead, expressing her their voices. Next week, we will be sharing all of these films with you, our SikhNet audience. Some of these videos have been selected as this year’s finalists and YOU will vote for some of the winners. Like American Idol, the decision of who wins and gets the prize will be in YOUR hands. We plan to launch the films online on September 25th. Once we have posted the videos online and voting begins, please take the time to watch these unique films. Block out your calendar. Turn off your regularly scheduled programs. Bring your family and loved ones together. And watch the spirit of Kaur that has been captured and reflected from cameras around the world. I promise that you will be both moved and inspired by what you see and hear. Here at SikhNet, we held our own Film Festival viewing event. The SikhNet team took an entire day to sit together and watch the movies. It created a lot of wonderful dialogue. We encourage you to do the same. Voting will last for two weeks. Schedule a couple evenings with your family and friends, or a day on the weekend. Get together, watch and enjoy the films together. Have your own little film festival and share your thoughts with each other. I have no words to express how humbling it is feels to see all of these young film makers putting the very best of themselves into these stories. Their effort is a reward in itself. Whoever wins, each film has added something new and special to Sikh media and to my life as well. With Divine Light, - Ek Ong Kaar Kaur
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