Warsaw: Japanese film-maker wins top Catholic award

Professor Chiba holding award, with his wife

Professor Shigeki Chiba, the president of Signis Japan, received the prestigious 'Multimedia at the Service of the Gospel Award.' at the 26th International Catholic Film Festival award ceremony held on 4 June at Niepokalanow, near Warsaw in Poland. There were two prizes in this category 'for outstanding achievements in the area of evangelization through multimedia.'

Chiba, veteran director of 12 award-winning films including historical films on Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, St Maxmilian Kolbe, and Blessed John Paul received the overseas award for promoting evangelization through media and producing films based on Christian spirituality.

The national award in the same category went to Salesian Father Roman Szpakowski, president of the Catholic Editors Association of Poland, and Founder organizer of the annual Catholic Editors Fair at the Royal Castle of Warsaw.

This is the seventh year of the award dedicated to Julian Kulenty (1922-2000), Polish film director, cameraman and director of more than 100 films, as well as president of the Warsaw branch of the Polish Association of Scientific Film.

A 25-minute Don Bosco flash film by Indian director Father Jiji Kalavanal. He won the first prize, a statuette and a certificate.

Other films by Asian directors that received special jury mention in various categories included a documentary entitled 'Pool of Siloam' by Indian director Father Biju Michael SDB from Israel. Films receiving a jury mention were a 10 minute documentary from Indonesia entitled "Harikartini" by Budiyanto, and "The Boy Who Stood Up" from Nairobi, Kenya, by Indian Salesian Father Sebastian Koladiyil.

Chiba is scheduled to meet with the president of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications, Archbishop Celli, and screen the films in the Vatican, on 7 June and at the Salesian University Rome on 8 June.

Special screenings of his two epic films 'Auschwitz - A Miracle of Love', produced in 1981, are being arranged to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Maximilian Maria this year. 'Living with Mother Teresa', produced to commemorate Blessed Teresa of Kolkata's 100th birthday last year, is also being screened to honour the veteran film director.

Source: UCAN