Jury Award: "Child Marriage: Let Me Breathe with My Dream" by Novera Hasan Nikkon, Bangladesh
Novera Hasan Nikkon, aged 20, from Bangladesh, speaks out against child marriage in her country in this film. It won a Jury Award in the "Issues Illuminated" category at Film Your Issue 2018: Youth Speak Out, Leadership Listens.
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Child marriage in Bangladesh
"In Bangladesh, child marriage is a strong social custom, and the country has the fourth highest rate of child marriage in the world," says Novera. "Because of the culture, girls are seen as an economic burden and are expected to marry very young.
"So for millions of girls in Bangladesh, marriage comes very early, and the damage follows them throughout their lives. This has been the way of life for girls in Bangladesh from generation to generation."
She adds: "There is no difference between a boy and a girl. Everyone has an equal right to shape their own destiny. Girls are never a burden."
A true story
"This film is the true story of a young girl who stood up against the child marriage her own mother had arranged. After a long struggle she stopped it, and she became an icon in her community. Her brave example will encourage girls to decide their own destiny. It also shows parents how to support their daughters' decisions instead of seeing them as an economic burden."
About the filmmaker
Novera is an undergraduate student at Jagannath University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since 2013 she has worked with Dhrupad Communication as an assistant producer and director.
Juror HeathCliff's view: although the film follows a traditional documentary style, it is a polished, accomplished piece of journalism merged with cinema from a 20-year-old. It tells a story from the heart of things, a shocking story that is happening in the world right now.