16-year-old director, Jayshree Janu Kharpade, wins the One to Watch Award for her FIRE IN OUR HEARTS at the 35th Annual Asian American International Film Festival in New York City. “With a strong courage to learn and conviction to give back to others, Jayshree documents her family and village, as well as the tenacious efforts of the tribal union for the equal rights to education, thanks to which she is able to attend a school for tribal girls,” says the festival director.
Jayshree is getting media attention in India and raising awareness about the struggles of 80 million tribal people in her country.
http://www.sunday-guardian.com/masala-art/storyteller-at-sixteen-one-girls-remarkable-rise