The Creative Gypsy and the road to the The Haryana International Film Festival

Delhi based film and entertainment buff Neeru Khera has created a unique production house and Youtube channel called “The Creative Gypsy”. The Creative Gypsy produces short films, features, web series, commercials and documentaries.

_{Neeru Khera}

The Creative Gypsy collaborates with the University of Warwick and is a Co-investigator on two NIHR funded projects that are led by Professor Swaran Singh: the Global Health Research Group on Psychosis Outcomes: the Warwick-India-Canada (WIC) network and Transforming Access to Care for Serious Mental Disorders in Slums - the TRANSFORM ProjectLink opens in a new window.

_{Neeru and the rest of the TRANSFORM team in Goa, March 2024}

As part of her work on the WIC project, Neeru produced a short, animated film, Hold My Hand which aims to raise mental health awareness in school children. Neeru describes Hold My Hand as a small film with a big message. Studies show that students from grades 8 to 12 are facing great stress caused by personal, social and educational challenges leading to anxiety. Various psychological issues start developing at the ages of 13 years. Hold My Hand is an iniative to reassure students that they are not alone. The film encourages them to seek help from school counsellors and helps parents to understand what their children are going through.

Hold My Hand was not only one of the outputs form the WIC project, but also became part of the inspiration for the Implementing Early Mental & Physical Health Detection & Support: Promoting a whole-School Approach to Health & Well-being (ISOBARLink opens in a new window) project.

Hold My Hand was selected for the Best Animation Film, in the Animation Film category and was screened to hundreds of students at Kurukshetra University and nearby schools as part of The Haryana International Film Festival.

The Haryana Internation Film Festival

The Haryana International Film Festival (HIFF) aims to raise the international recognition of Haryanvi Culture & Haryanvi Peoples, by conducting film festivals in the cities of Haryana every year.

The HIFF vision is:

· Provide an opportunity to heighten awareness of Hindi and English and Haryanvi culture and identities to audiences of all cultural backgrounds.

· Present films in their original languages with subtitles in an effort to build cross-cultural bridges.

· Create global platform for Independent filmmakers & youth worldwide towards uniting the world & supporting global harmony & peace.

· Encourage film locations exchange, film culture & enhance film tourism art, culture & technological exchange between film-makers

The Festival also aims to provide a platform to young Haryanvis to showcase their creativity.

The 7th Haryana International Film Festival (HIFF-24) was a five day event held over 7^th – 11^th August, and hosted by Kurukshetra University. The film festival was organised by the Department of Youth and Cultural Affairs, Kurukshetra University, in collaboration with Sanskriti Society for Arts and Cultural Development.

HIFF – 24 showcased a diverse, language independent, selection of the best feature films, documentaries and short films from around the world, on the themes of Hindi and English and other Haryanvi cultures and identities. In addition, HIFF-24 also featured gala events, film parties, seminars and concerts and provide networking opportunities for government representatives, business leaders, local organisations that support film development, film stars, producers, directors, members of the media and more.

Best Amination Film

On the night, Neeru was announced as the winner of the Best Animation Film category and took to the stage to receive her trophy. Neeru stated that the award “was a huge step in raising awareness and encouraging young people to speak up about their mental health”. Neeru acknowledged that the HIFF is a “fantastic platform to showcase the important message of mental health awareness amongst school children”. She thanked HIFF for their support in “amplifying our mission to create a safe space for children to express their feelings”.

_{Neeru talks to the press after receiving her award}

On hearing the news, Professor Singh, on behalf of all collaborators on the WIC, TRANSFORM and ISOBAR projects, congratulated Neeru and her team on her achievements and recieving the award.

_{the Best Animated Film award}