Malayalee director and entrepreneur Dr. K.S. Sohan Roy receives ‘Better World Fund Unity Award’ at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival 2021. He got the award for his directorial documentary “Black Sand”, which is based on environmental degradation and unscientific mining methods adopted in Alappuzha’s Alappad region.

Also Read: Cannes 2021: Influencer Diipa Buller Khosla sports breast pumps over her gown

The award was given to him at a ceremony at Cannes Film Festival in Paris. He was nominated for the award along with other prominent Hollywood film personalities including Barry Alexander Brown, Spike Lee and Nabeel Ayush.

The list of previous years’ award winners include the Prince of Monaco Albert II; Hollywood actors like Forest Whitaker and Sharon Stone; and German filmmaker Wim Wenders Roy will become the first Indian to be honoured with the award.

Roy is also known for his directorial Hollywood movie “DAM 999” which contended for the 2011 Oscars and received five selections in three categories.

Also Read: Cannes: Film on Anne Frank aims to move beyond her iconic image, says director

The Cannes Festival is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world.

The prestigious Cannes Film Festival is back with its 74th edition after the cancelation of the festival in 2020 due to COVID-19. The festival has returned to its red-carpet glory with movie stars, fans with iPhones and fully vaccinated, tested international press at the opening night premiere.

Despite the current outbreak of infections in the nation, the event, which started on July 6 on the French Riviera, has attracted stars such as Adam Driver and Matt Damon. Although it will go ahead, the event will be substantially downsized this year, with fewer flashy Hollywood parties and a smaller audience.

Talking about the film, India may not have secured a position in the Competition and Un Certain Regard official sections, but two of its movies featured in the sidebars this year are already making a buzz.