From France, Keyi Productions on ARTE, co-directed by Abhjijeet Pande and Antoine Wedeyer.
For storytellers who are using their talents to change the world…
We are thrilled again to partner with the New York Festivals (NYF) TV & Film and Radio Awards on the JusticeAid Award. This distinction—honoring the highest-scoring entry across all Social Justice categories in the competition, including news programs and reporting, interviews, documentaries, entertainment programs (live action and animated), and student entries—was announced on May 21st at the NYF Storytellers Gala.
Congratulations to documentary film, My Father’s Hair: A Family’s Pursuit of Justice, an intimate portrait of a young woman reclaiming her voice, and of the fragile but determined forms of resistance led by women in a society where tradition, caste, rape, and other violence continue to shape the lives of millions.
The winning entry in 2025, the JusticeAid Award’s inaugural year, went to Disney+Spain.
About the film:
Three years ago, 17-year-old Kinjal, a member of the Dalit community – a group considered “untouchables,” who occupy the lowest social status, at the bottom of the caste system — was raped by the son of a landowner from a higher caste.
To cover up the incident, the rapist’s family offered Kinjal’s parents land and 100,000 euros – a fortune. But Kinjal’s father rejected the compromise, preferring to take the case to court.
This rare act of courage was considered an affront by the higher castes.
For six months, a camera crew accompanied Kinjal and her family in their search for justice. The film offers a glimpse behind the scenes in India, where the violence of the caste system and the weight of tradition determine the lives of hundreds of millions of women.
JusticeAid leverages the community-building power of art and music to transform awareness into action in the fight against injustice. Film and visual arts are a powerful force for education and empowerment. This year, JusticeAid is raising money to support our 2026 grantee partner, the National Immigration Project. Please join us in uplifting this nimble and efficient organization as they work to defend our most vulnerable neighbors.
