Shahida Akhter Wins award for documentary film at Jakarta

Author, researcher, social activist & filmmaker Dr Shahida Akhter has been given the Platinum Award as the Best Director at the Award Ceremony of the International Film Festival on Women, Social Issues and Zero Discrimination 2016 for her documentary film 'Fight Acid Violence' held at the Indonesian capital Jakarta on 7th March. The award ceremony was organized to celebrate International Women's Day and Zero Discrimination Day 2016. The main mission of the International Film Festival for Women, Social Issues, and Zero Discrimination is to support & promote the filmmakers from all over the world, and to raise awareness towards issues relating to women and social issues in general, and to help the United Nations promote peace and its humanitarian goals. Films and documentaries from various parts of the world contested in the festival, and the Filmmakers, Directors, Producers, Actors, Singers of Indonesia, USA, Canada, Italy, England, Australia, Egypt, Africa, Srilanka, Singapore, India and Bangladesh attended the festival. Dr. Shahida Akhter is the only filmmaker from Bangladesh to attend the festival and receive the prestigious award.Dr. Shahida Akhter has wide experience in the areas of education, literature and language, project management, training, election supervision, advocacy and campaign, research, gender issues, human rights, child rights, folklore and cultural heritage for 27 years. She worked with the Ministry of Education in Bangladesh, Bangla Academy (Senior Fellow, Ford Foundation), Campaign for Popular Education, UNICEF (Consultant), Bangladesh Open University, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, and other national and international organizations.