An Indian Catholic nun has won accolades with an award-winning short film and photographic documentation of tribal life in one of the last few surviving forests in the financial capital of the country.
For Sister Josefina Albuquerque, from the congregation of Religious of Jesus and Mary in Mumbai, it’s a dream come true after a 20-year stint teaching in top-ranked schools and being the principal of two high schools.
Her zero-budget movie titled, “D for Dumbo,” which was shot on a simple mobile phone, won the first prize awarded by the St Paul’s Communication Centre in Bandra, Mumbai, on Aug. 14. The seven-minute film about a fourth grader who has difficulty learning math but excels in storytelling has also been selected for screening at the online ALP International Film Festival, showcasing independent films on Sept. 23-24.
“I am very humbled by the award and recognition,” the 45-year-old Goan nun told UCA News.
Albuquerque, who is dressed in the traditional Kurta Churidar like most Indian women, says she always wanted “to reach out to and touch a wider, diverse audience with Gospel values rather than limiting herself to a classroom.”
She continues to serve as the principal of St. Agnes High School in Mumbai, which also serves as the headquarters of the popular Bollywood film industry.