'Kaash', 'Ummeed' triumph at Antardrishti short film fest

Mumbai-based filmmaker Sunil Shinde's "Kaash" won the Golden Eye award while Pune-based Pranay Makwane's "Ummeed" bagged the Silver Eye at the recently concluded short film festival organised by Antardrishti Foundation to promote eye donation.

The special jury award was presented to "Kari Balaku", made by Kannada filmmaker Abhilash Shandilya at the two-day event that ended Saturday.

Antardrishti convener Akhil Srivastav said that the film festival is organised every year to promote the importance of eye donation.

"The growing popularity and increased participation from all over India is very encouraging for us," Sirvastav told IANS and added that more than 50 lakh blind people are waiting to be helped with eye donations. He felt that it was high time myths and ignorance about eye donation were fought collectively.

The festival was held at Agra University's Jubilee Hall.

Srivastav said that Antardrishti is planning to open an FM station that will be run by blind people.