Film and Media Studies assistant professor Shanti Thakur won the Platinum Remi Award for Experimental Film at the 43rd Worldfest Houston International Film Festival for her short film, “Sky People.”
“Sky People” has also won Best Narrative Film at the Columbus International Film Festival, Best Narrative Film-Faculty Jury Award at the 2009 University Film & Video Association Competition, Best of the Fest at the Chicago International REEL Short Film Festival and Best Experimental Film at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, which qualified “Sky People” consideration for nomination for an Academy Award.
“Sky People” is a lyrical satire on class in New York City. Scientists discover that the farther you are from earth, the slower time passes and therefore, the longer you’ll live. The story follows 21 different characters’ race to be a “sky-person” – the elite one percent who live above the 13th floor.
The film was partially funded by a PSC-CUNY Research Award. Working easily between fiction, documentary and experimental film, her work has screened in over 200 film festivals and has broadcast in 22 countries, including the Sundance Channel.