Taskovski Films has picked up sales rights to “Redlight to Limelight,” about a high-spirited group of Indian sex workers and their families as they make a short film. The film, directed by Bipuljit Basu, has its world premiere at Sheffield DocFest in the International First Feature Competition.
“Redlight to Limelight” follows a group of sex workers and their children in a brothel in Kalighat, Kolkata, who create stories through their video production unit called Cam-On. Putting the grimy reality of the sex trade to one side, the women and their children are immersed in the joy of storytelling with a desire to turn the brothel into a better place.
Cam On embarks on making a short fiction film “Nupur,” which includes threads of memories and day-to-day reality, and takes them through a cathartic experience when the community premieres the film at a public screening.
The film was produced by Nilotpal Majumdar and co-produced by John Webster and Uldis Cekulis, with Emma Hindley and Somnath Gosh acting as executive producers.
Irena Taskovski, CEO and head of acquisitions at Taskovski Films, said: “ ‘Redlight to Limelight’ is a powerful testament to the healing force of cinema and a celebration of friendship and long-term collaboration. Discovering new Indian talent like Bipuljit Basu and working with long-time partners such as Nilotpal Majumder, who has spent decades nurturing Indian documentary voices through Docedge Kolkata, and dear colleagues like Uldis Cekulis and John Webster is a true privilege.
“Set in Kolkata’s most stigmatized red-light district, the film follows the Cam-On collective’s creative journey, revealing stories of resilience and hope. It shows how filmmaking can transform pain into purpose and give marginalized voices dignity and joy.”
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