Big Syn International Film Festival invites films, videos on positive change from India to be screened on Piccadilly Lights

Dr Ragini G Roy and Dr. Sourav Roy, the NRI founders of the world’s biggest sustainability film festival, Big Syn International Film Festival, and London’s Piccadilly Lights are inviting films and videos from India to be screened on Europe’s biggest screen, London’s iconic Piccadilly Lights, states a release shared by the organisers of the film festival. 

The film festival has so far reached over 8 million in more than 90 countries, and is led by OSCAR, BAFTA and EMMY award-winning celebrities, Hollywood A-listers and leaders from media, sustainability and policy.

The giant billboard, Piccadilly Lights, is one of London’s best known landmarks with blockbuster films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Harry Potter, Batman, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and Fast and Furious filmed at this iconic location in the heart of the city. 

The festival organiser, Big Syn Institute (part of Centre for Big Synergy, a CSO of the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs), and London’s Piccadilly Lights have partnered to award winners a special prize called the Piccadilly Lights Spotlight Prize. The winners will screen their 5 min shorts or videos and 59 sec social media videos on Piccadilly Lights, to take their message to the world, as part of the festival. 

The festival’s founders remarked, “India has made exemplary progress on sustainability and has nurtured several pioneering initiatives. These stories of progress and change from India and its people could inspire the rest the world to follow their example. As Indians, it will be a proud moment for us to see stories of change and hope from India showcased on world stage.”

Over the years, films from the festival have been nominated and have won the OSCARS, EMMYS and BAFTAS, and the other way around. The festival provides a novel platform, accepting meaningful entries from filmmakers as well as from members of the public, groups and organisations. Anyone from India, 13 and over can participate in the film festival. Also, Indian schools, universities, not for profits, community organisations, charities and businesses can share their films and videos of impact and change. Winning films or videos will be shared with millions via the film festival; in London, online and on Piccadilly Lights, for the world to be inspired to #actnow.

The festival is also accepting entries for other regular categories including feature films, shorts, animations, documentaries, music videos, advertisements and public service videos. All winning films will be featured on Piccadilly Lights.

Notable global personalities who have led the festival include British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, OBE (Bend It Like Beckham, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Bride and Prejudice and The Mistress of Spices), Amma Asante, MBE (First black female BAFTA winner), Kevin Willmott (OSCARS, BAFTA and Cannes winner), US Ambassador (Rtd) Howard Gutman , Baroness Prashar (House of Lords), Pippa Ehrlich (OSCARS & BAFTA winner), Andre Singer (EMMY winner), Victoria Mapplebeck (BAFTA winner), Emma Thomas (BAFTA Lifetime), Patrick Aryee (BBC/Sky), Anna Smith (Film critic; Sky/BBC), Deborah Meaden (BBC Dragons’ Den) and Tom Szaky (Terracycle), to name a few. 

Stressing on the importance of the film festival, President Barack Obama’s US Ambassador (Rtd) Howard Gutman added, “Films from the festival show us that Sustainable Development Goals are about real people and real lives. Their stories remind us that we share this planet and must preserve it together.”

All entries can be submitted via www.bigsyn.org; entries close September 30. Screenings will be held in October and November 2023.