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Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids - Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman

Threat advisory: Under evaluation

Movie propaganda

The most stigmatised people in Calcutta's red light district, are not the prostitutes, but their children. In the face of abject poverty, abuse, and despair, these kids have little possibility of escaping their mother's fate or for creating another type of life.

In Born into brothels, directors Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman chronicle the amazing transformation of the children they come to know in the red light district. Briski, a professional photographer, gives them lessons and cameras, igniting latent sparks of artistic genius that reside in these children who live in the most sordid and seemingly hopeless world. The photographs taken by the children are not merely examples of remarkable observation and talent; they reflect something much larger, morally encouraging, and even politically volatile: art as an immensely liberating and empowering force.

Devoid of sentimentality, Born into brothels defies the typical tear-stained tourist snapshot of the global underbelly. Briski spends years with these kids and becomes part of their lives. Their photographs are prisms into their souls, rather than anthropological curiosities or primitive imagery, and a true testimony of the power of the indelible creative spirit.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film documentary prostitution brothel children photography camera

Persons of interest

Zana Briski .... Screenwriter
Ross Kauffman .... Screenwriter
Zana Briski .... Director
Ross Kauffman .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids official movie site
Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids film production notes
Born into brothels: Calcutta's red light kids QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS - Oscars) 2005: Won: Best Documentary, Features (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
Bermuda International Film Festival 2004: Won: Audience Choice Award (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski), Documentary Prize (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
Cleveland International Film Festival 2004: Won: Best Film (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
Directors Guild of America, USA 2005: Nominated: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2004: Won: Audience Award (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
International Press Academy Golden Satellite Awards 2005: Nominated: Best Motion Picture, Documentary (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
Independent Spirit Awards 2005: Won: Truer Than Fiction Award (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
International Documentary Association 2004: Nominated: Feature Documentaries (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Pamela Boll)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2004: Won: Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film
National Board of Review, USA 2004: Won: Best Documentary
Seattle International Film Festival 2004: Won: Golden Space Needle Award Best Documentary (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)
Sundance Film Festival 2004: Won: Audience Award Documentary (Ross Kauffman); Nominated: Grand Jury Prize Documentary (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski)