“Kavi“, directed-produced-written by Gregg Helvey (Overexposed), has been nominated in “Short Film” (Live Action) category of 82nd Academy Awards. It will compete with “The Door” (Juanita Wilson, James Flynn), “Instead of Abracadabra” (Patrik Eklund, Mathias Fjellstrom), “Miracle Fish” (Luke Doolan, Drew Bailey), and “The New Tenants” (Joachim Back, Tivi Magnusson).
Film revolves around Kavi, a boy in India, who wants to go to school and play cricket but is forced to work in a brick kiln as a modern-day slave. This 19-minute fictional film is Helvey’’s University of Southern California thesis project. A feature length theatrical version is being planned. The movie website claims that about 27 million people are enslaved in the world today.
Filmed entirely on location in India, it was shot in eight days at Wai, near Mumbai. “Does slavery still exist?” is the tagline of this award winning film, whose other crew includes John Harrison (cinematographer), Chris Witt (editor), and Patrick Kirst (music).
Sagar Salunke played as Kavi.
Congratulating “Kavi” filmmakers for the nomination, Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement today in Nevada (USA), urged other world filmmakers that instead of just focusing on poverty and crime, they should also explore many finer and deeper things India offered. Planet’’s most multidimensional country, fast growing economy, emerging world power, largest democracy, etc.; India had snowcapped mountains, palm-fringed and sun-washed beaches, glorious temples, colorful festivals, rich philosophy and spirituality, abundant historical sites, wildlife safaris, recharging treks, historic trade routes, cultural wealth, etc., Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.
The 82nd Academy Awards presentation will take place on March seven in Hollywood (California, USA).