SUNSHINE | Student Short Documentary from India

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." - unknown author

“Here, I think, I found the purpose I’d been looking for..."

“Here” means for Katka H. the streets of sacred Indian city –

Varanasi. There she has decided to stay, in a place of

different flavors, colors, religions to pass one of the most

precious thing – the knowledge. With the hope to make a better

life for her students.

Teaching children with the heart. As opposite to Indian culture, not using threats to motivate children to learn, as well as avoid using any violence. Katerina Hapalova, often misunderstood by her surroundings believe this is not the right path, for their future, as well as the future of all the world. By different means, she is trying to sparkle children natural curiosity and find some motivation for achieving goals in their future life.

Sunshine Education Society is a growing project offering underprivileged and deprived children their only opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment. Coming from poor families who are unable to afford school fees, the children who join the society for two hours each day would otherwise be put to work and suffer the same menial labor tasks as their parents. the aim is to help children develop the means to access greater opportunities and take charge of their own futures.

Katerina was introduced to the social situation and living conditions of many children in Varanasi while visiting from the Czech Republic. Katerina has a degree in social work studies. When she came to India and saw the living condition of poor people, she decided to stay and help them by providing education and getting the funds for their children. Her degree in social work, the shared passion that Katerina and her Indian boyfriend Vicky hold and their own income was the beginning of the Sunshine Education in 2015.

Children in this school come from very poor families which cannot afford regular school for their children. School is very happy that they can give them basic education. They teach them Hindi language, English language, mathematics…. and painting. With the use of basic laptop by PowerPoint presentation, they also teach them about the nature, animals, about mother Ganga, how important is to keep Ganga and all the environment clean. Every Saturday they have painting classes and trying to enhance children's creativity. using accessible materials as all type of colors, beads, clothes. provide them a safe environment, where they can express freely and develop their talents.

Film & TV School Wales | University of South Wales

Short documentary from India

Directed by Patrik Krivanek

Cinematography - Michael Gazda

Executive Producer - Patrik Krivanek

Producer - Linda Mejstrikova

Camera Operator - Vratislav Karas

Editor - Michael Gazda

Color Grading - Vratislav Karas

Composer - Jeremy James Hunt

Assistant Editors - Vratislav Karas, Vojtech Stanek

BTS Photography - Linda Mejstrikova

Social Media - Linda Mejstrikova

Subtitles - Karolina Hovorkova

Big Thanks to Katerina Hapalova, Vicky Dubey and all pupils of Sunshine Education Society

HONOURABLE MENTION - NRFF - New Renaissance Film Festival (2019, London, UK)

SEMI-FINALIST - International Short Film Festival of Beveren (2018, Beveren, Belgium)

OFFICIAL SELECTION - VIVA FILM FESTIVAL (2018, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

OFFICIAL SELECTION - Chapter MovieMaker - March 2018 (2018, Cardiff, UK)

OFFICIAL SELECTION - Tourism Film Festival "Tourfilm Riga" (2018, Riga, Latvia)

OFFICIAL SELECTION - EduDoc: Stories of Education (2018, New Delhi, India)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8055186/reference

Score from our documentary ’Sunshine’ composed by Jeremy James Hunt has been now performed by Budapest Symphonic Orchestra and mixed by Jake Jackson who's recorded and mixed for Solo: A Star Wars Story and Doctor Who: https://youtu.be/xVeXtdEZ_vM