Shine Global at the Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour

by Shine Global | Feb 18, 2026 | Shine News

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Shine Global at the Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour

ILO’s Anders Johnsson in conversation with Shine Global’s Co-CEO, Creative Director and Anuja producer Alexandra Blaney at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour in Marrakech, Morocco in February 2026.

Co-CEO’s Alexandra Blaney and Francile Mullen were proud to represent Shine Global at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, held in Marrakech, Morocco, where governments, workers, employers, and civil society leaders gathered to accelerate progress toward ending child labour worldwide. With an estimated 138 million children still trapped in child labour globally, including 54 million in hazardous work, the conference served as a powerful reminder of both the urgency of the crisis and the need to move from commitments to meaningful action.

As part of the conference program, Shine Global hosted a special screening of Anuja, our Oscar-nominated short film centering on child labour and girls’ education through the story of a nine-year-old girl working in a garment factory in Delhi. The screening was followed by an engaging Q&A with the film’s producer and Shine Global Co-CEO and Creative Director Alexandra Blaney, who spoke about the importance of storytelling in the fight for children’s rights.

Introducing the film, moderator Anders Johnsson who leads the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) regional communications strategy across Africa, reflected on the limits of statistics alone: “138 million children is an enormous number. And it’s also one which is very difficult to wrap our heads around. So sometimes it’s actually easier to talk about one child, one story. And that’s something that the award-winning short film Anuja does extraordinarily well.”

While global frameworks and statistics are essential, Shine Global’s message throughout the conference was that we also need stories that bring these numbers to life and to help people connect emotionally and understand what child labour looks like in the daily realities of children and families. Throughout the conversation, Alexandra returned to the power of personal narrative to move beyond abstraction. “138 million is an unimaginable number of children. I don’t even really know what that means. But I can see Anuja’s story and I know what that means and why we need to stop child labor.”

That distinction between statistics that can wash over people and stories that connect on a human level shaped Shine Global’s broader message in Marrakech: policy frameworks are needed, but without storytelling to galvanize public will, they struggle to gain traction.

Alexandra also moderated the conference’s CSO Forum session, which focused on the indispensable role of civil society organizations in reaching children and families. The discussion highlighted that CSOs are often the only actors with direct access and insight, yet their work is frequently constrained by limited funding, fragmented coordination, and policy frameworks that do not fully reflect the realities they confront on the ground. As Gazal Malik, Lead – Policy and Advocacy at Global March Against Child Labour, noted during the session, “Civil society has become the emergency service—we identify, rescue, counsel and negotiate, all on project funding. That is not sustainable.”

Participants explored practical ways to strengthen collaboration between community-based initiatives and national policy commitments, and how to carry forward the new global framework emerging from the conference. Alexandra reinforced how storytelling can complement these policy conversations. She described how Shine Global has seen films influence legislation and local decision-making in the past, from supporting the passage of the Child Soldier Prevention Act to informing new child labour proposals in the United States. With Anuja, the impact has already extended globally: distributed by Netflix in more than 190 countries and viewed over 10 million times in its first ten months, the film has reached audiences far beyond traditional policy circles.

Crucially, the film balances realism with hope. “When audiences watch a film, that’s only the very first step,” Alexandra said. “That’s raising awareness. But then as soon as they walk out of the theater, they need to take the next step. And I don’t think that you’ll take that next step if you have no hope.” By portraying children not as passive victims but as resilient, joyful, and full of agency, the film invites action rather than despair.

Ending child labour will require enforcement, financing, and political leadership. But it will also require stories that help the world see the child behind the statistics—and feel compelled to ensure that no child has to choose between survival and an education. Shine Global leaves Marrakech inspired and energized, with a renewed commitment to using film and storytelling alongside advocacy and partnerships to advance the global movement to eliminate child labour.

Storytelling is not peripheral to this movement—it is an essential tool within it. As Alexandra reflected at the close of the session, what gives her hope is “the very fact that we’re having these conversations,” and the resilience and joy she sees in the children she meets through this work.

Watch the full Anuja Q&A here: https://live.ilo.org/event/storytelling-childrens-rights-conversation-following-anuja-2026-02-12

Watch the full CSO Forum here: https://live.ilo.org/event/civil-society-organization-forum-policy-practice-bridging-gaps-building-impact-2026-02-12

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ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL

Shine Global is a nonprofit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce and support inspiring films and compelling content about underserved children. Through tailored distribution and outreach, we connect with our audiences in communities, classrooms, museums, and on Capitol Hill as part of a powerful engagement campaign to encourage social change.

Since our founding in 2005 by Susan MacLaury and Albie Hecht, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente, an Academy Award® nomination for Best Live Action Short for Anuja, and an Academy Award® nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance. Recent films include the documentary-animation hybrid Liyana, the hit documentary The Eagle Huntress, Through Our Eyes: Homefront which is available on HBOMax, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE AWARDS

The Shine Global Resilience Awards were created to honor films that highlight the strength, dignity, and power of children in the face of adversity. Past winners of Shine Global Resilience Awards include the feature documentaries Speak. (2025, Directed by Guy Mossman and Jennifer Tiexiera), Daughters (2024, Directed by Angela Patton and Natalie Rae), Name Me Lawand (2023, Directed by Edward Lovelace), and Lift (2022, Directed by David Petersen), Los Frikis (2024, written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz) in partnership with Nantucket Film Festival, the short Rise (2025, Directed by Jessica J. Rowlands), the short documentary Ayenda (2023, directed by Marie Margolius) in partnership with Heartland Film’s Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Okthanksbye (2023, Nicole Van Kilsdok) with ReelAbilities Film Festival, Savauges (2024, directed by Claude Barras), and Dounia – The Great White North (2024, directed by Marya Zarif and André Kadi) in partnership with the New York International Children’s Film Festival.

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Shine Global Joins 100 Organizations in Letter Decrying Cuts to ILAB Grants to Address Child Labor and Forced Labor

by Shine Global | Apr 28, 2025 | Shine News

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Shine Global Joins 100 Organizations in Letter Decrying Cuts to ILAB Grants to Address Child Labor and Forced Labor

Sajda Pathan as Anuja in the Oscar-nominated short film “Anuja” by Writer/Director Adam J. Graves and Produced in Association with Shine Global

April 28, 2025 – Shine Global has joined more than 100 civil society organizations to call on the US Department of Labor to continue fighting forced labor and child labor. Recent cuts of $500 million in funding for the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), whose federally-funded programs play a critical role in fighting forced labor and child labor globally, undermines U.S. leadership, eviscerates protections for vulnerable workers, and hobbles the fight against exploitation.

Given Shine Global’s longstanding commitment to fighting child labor with our films The Harvest (La Cosecha) and our Oscar-nominated Anuja, we are proud to join these organizations in this letter.

Read the letter below:

The undersigned organizations are alarmed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s decision to cancel approximately $500 million in grants awarded by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). These funds play a vital role in addressing forced labor, child labor, and human trafficking across the globe.

ILAB’s grant programs are crucial in the fight against these abuses, supporting efforts to eliminate child labor, prevent exploitation, uphold freedom of association, support trade unions, build capacity and strengthen enforcement mechanisms that combat forced labor worldwide. Their elimination weakens U.S. efforts to eradicate forced labor. This decision undercuts the U.S. government’s decades-long commitment to combating human trafficking. More importantly, it strips essential support for those at risk of exploitation, including children, further entrenching cycles of forced labor in supply chains.

We strongly believe that dismantling these programs will not make the U.S safer, secure, and more prosperous. Instead, these cuts undermine American workers and businesses by allowing unfair competition from goods produced with forced labor. They will also have severe implications for our country’s economic security.

We call on the Secretary of Labor to immediately restore ILAB grants and maintain robust staffing at ILAB to ensure that its projects are administered properly and that the office is able to meet its Congressionally mandated responsibilities. This funding is important to create a level playing field for American businesses and workers while fighting human trafficking and forced labor.

Signed,
Above Ground
Action on Smoking and Health
AFL-CIO
Alliance to End Human Trafficking
Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST)
American Apparel and Footwear Association
American Federation of Teachers
American Industrial Hygiene Association
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP)
Azul
Be Slavery Free
Beyond Borders
Campaign to End U.S. Child Labor
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc (CDM)
Childfund International
Childhood Education International
Child Labor Coalition
China Labor Watch
Child Welfare League of America
Coffee Watch
Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI)
Common Good Iowa
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
Corporate Accountability Lab
Covenant House International
Disability Rights International
Dr. Bronner’s
Earth Ethics, Inc.
Economic Policy Institute
Educate the Children Inc.
Fair Labor Association
Fairtrade America
Family Support Center
Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute
FishWise
First Focus on Children
Florida Policy Institute
Food Empowerment Project
Freedom Network USA
Free the Slaves
Free Uyghur Now
Futures Without Violence
Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
Global Campaign for Education – US
Global March Against Child Labour
Green America
Greenpeace USA
Global Labor Justice
GoodWeave International
HEAL Trafficking
Heartland Initiative
HKM Employment Attorneys LLP
Human Rights First
Human Rights Watch
Human Trafficking Legal Center
Humanity United
Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR)
International Justice Mission
International Rescue Committee
International Rights Advocates
Investor Alliance for Human Rights
Jewish Movement for Uyghur Freedom
Justice At Last
Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor
La Isla Network
Maquila Solidarity Network
Media Voices for Children
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Consumers League
National Council Occupational Safety and Health (COSH)
National Education Association
National Employment Law Project
Occupational Health & Safety Section/APHA
Oceana
Oxfam America
Partners for Dignity and Rights
PCUN, Oregon’s Farmworker Union
Polaris
Preble Street
Public Citizen
Responsibility Sourcing Network
Rights CoLab
Santa Clara University – International Human Rights Clinic
Shine Global Inc.
Social Accountability International
Solidarity Center
Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative, Loyola Law School
The Centre for Child Rights and Business
The Global March Against Child Labour
Together for Girls
Transparentem
University of Maryland SAFE Center for Human Trafficking Survivors
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Uyghur Human Rights Project
Verité
VOICE Network
Winrock International
Womankind
Worker Rights Consortium
Workplace Justice Lab at Rutgers University
World Vision

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About Shine Global

Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce inspiring films and compelling content about underserved children. Through tailored distribution and outreach, we connect with our audiences in communities, classrooms, museums, and on Capitol Hill as part of a powerful engagement campaign to encourage social change.

Since our founding in 2005, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente and an Academy Award®-nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance, and an Academy Award®-nomination for Anuja. Recent films include the documentary-animation hybrid Liyana, the hit documentary The Eagle Huntress, Through Our Eyes: Homefront which is available on HBOMax, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds.

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Free Companion Discussion Guide For Anuja

by Shine Global | Feb 5, 2025 | Shine News

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Free Companion Discussion Guide For Anuja
Nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short

Shine Global is pleased to offer this free companion discussion guide to our nominated short film Anuja for viewers to download. The film is now available to watch on Netflix!

Anuja, crafted by husband-and-wife team Adam J. Graves (writer/director) and Suchitra Mattai (producer), tells a stirring tale of two sisters struggling to find joy and opportunity in a world intent on their exploitation and exclusion. This powerful short follows Anuja, a precocious nine-year-old orphan who works in a back-alley garment factory alongside her older sister Palak, when she is suddenly faced with a rare opportunity that will determine the fate of her future and family.

Our goal is to provide viewers, screening hosts, and educators with flexibility to begin discussing the issues presented in the film, depending upon your needs and interests, and those of your students or participants. With these materials, we hope to encourage the exploration of some difficult questions about our global labor system and promote the development of new ideas.

Anuja was produced by Graves Films in partnership with the Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), a nonprofit that supports street and working children, Shine Global, the production company behind Emmy and Academy Award-winning films such as War/Dance (2007) and Inocente (2012), and Krushan Naik Films. Additional team members include Producers Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Krushan Naik, Michael Graves, Aaron Kopp, Ksheetij Saini, and Alexandra Blaney, Executive Producers Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Michael Christopher Graves, Anita Bhatia, Co-Executive Producers Archana Misra Jain, Susan MacLaury, Albie Hecht, and Music by Fabrizio Mancinelli.

You can make a donation to support Shine Global’s efforts using Anuja as a tool to combat child labor.

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce inspiring films and compelling content about underserved children. Through tailored distribution and outreach, we connect with our audiences in communities, classrooms, museums, and on Capitol Hill as part of a powerful engagement campaign to encourage social change.
Since our founding in 2005, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente and an Academy Award®-nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance. Recent films include the documentary-animation hybrid Liyana, the hit documentary The Eagle Huntress, Through Our Eyes: Homefront which is available on HBOMax, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE AWARDS
These awards recognize and celebrate the films and filmmakers that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity. The awards are open to films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

VIEW ALL POSTS

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Anuja Nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short

by Shine Global | Jan 23, 2025 | Shine News

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Anuja Nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short

Shine Global is thrilled to share that Anuja has been nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 97th Academy Awards.

Anuja, crafted by husband-and-wife team Adam J. Graves (writer/director) and Suchitra Mattai (producer), tells a stirring tale of two sisters struggling to find joy and opportunity in a world intent on their exploitation and exclusion. This powerful short follows Anuja, a precocious nine-year-old orphan who works in a back-alley garment factory alongside her older sister Palak, when she is suddenly faced with a rare opportunity that will determine the fate of her future and family. The film can soon be seen worldwide on Netflix.

Anuja was produced by Graves Films in partnership with the Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), a nonprofit that supports street and working children, Shine Global, the production company behind Emmy and Academy Award-winning films such as War/Dance (2007) and Inocente (2012), and Krushan Naik Films. Adding authenticity to the narrative, lead actress Sajda Pathan draws from her own experiences of surviving on the streets of old Delhi, along with her sister, before recently finding a home with the Salaam Baalak Trust.

Producer Alexandra Blaney, Co-CEO and Creative Director of Shine Global, said, “We are so proud of the entire team behind Anuja for this honor. This Oscar-nomination ensures that the story of Anuja and her sister will reach and inspire audiences around the world, shining a light on the resilience and strength of children, which is at the heart of our mission.

Adam J. Graves (Writer/Director) is a philosopher-turned-filmmaker who wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning short film Cycle Vérité (2021). He is married to the acclaimed visual artist Suchitra Mattai (producer of ANUJA).

Adam shared “This is an extraordinary honor. Anuja began as a small passion project between filmmakers to showcase the resilience and strength of remarkable children, and I’m deeply grateful to the Academy for giving this story a global platform. Working with Sajda and Ananya, the two young women who are the heart and soul of this film, has been a career highlight for me, and this recognition is a powerful reminder of the impact compassion and courage can have in inspiring change.”

Suchitra Mattai (Producer) is a multi-disciplinary artist of South Asian descent, whose work celebrates the power of women, reimagines historical narratives, and explores her family’s history of indentured labor.

Suchitra expressed “Being part of Anuja has been an incredible journey, and I’m honored to share this story with the world. Through our partnership with Salaam Baalak Trust, we’ve been able to provide a platform for the voices of working children and highlight the incredible work this organization does to support and uplift these kids. It’s been a privilege to tell such an impactful story, and I hope it inspires greater awareness and action to empower these remarkable young lives.”

Anuja has been championed by a powerhouse team of producers, including Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor (Oscar winner for The Elephant Whisperers) and Executive Producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Tony Award winning producer and Emmy nominated writer Mindy Kaling is best known for her starring role in the U.S. version of “The Office”, as well as her hit shows she has created and produced like “The Mindy Project”, “Never Have I Ever” “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and the upcoming “Running Point.”

Mindy shared “I have been a producer for almost twenty years, but producing Anuja has been a highlight of my career. I feel so lucky to be part of this joyous story of two girls with big dreams and ambitions, but who are overlooked – my favorite kind of heroines! I’m so grateful to Adam Graves and Suchitra Mattai for inviting me and Kaling International on this journey. I also don’t sleep so it was nice to actually be doing something fun at 5:30 this morning.”

Guneet Monga Kapoor is an Indian film producer, an Academy Award winner, and BAFTA nominee, and amongst the first producers from India to be invited to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Most recently, Guneet became the first producer in India to win an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, for the Indian produced ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ (2023).

Guneet said “Incredibly honoured for this nomination at the 97th Oscars. It is a privilege to share the story of Anuja, representing the work of Salaam Baalak Trust India – the voice of countless youth who bravely face formidable circumstances everyday. Even through unimaginable odds, they show us there is reason to smile. Director Adam J. Graves and Producer Suchitra Mattai have poured all of their hearts into this. This nomination is a testament to how we can cross borders, collaborate, and bring honest stories to life, alongside the support of some of the most powerful global icons like Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Thank you for helping bring Anuja’s message to the global stage. Can’t wait for the world to experience the joy of watching Anuja on Netflix.”

Anuja’s Executive Producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ expressed “‘Anuja’ being nominated for an Oscar in the Best Live Action Short Film category is such an incredible moment. This film is a beautiful reminder of the power of storytelling—how it can shine a light on love, family, and resilience in the most authentic way. I’m so proud of Adam J. Graves for his vision and deeply moved by the brilliant performances of Sajda Pathan and Ananya Shanbhag, who have poured their hearts into bringing these characters to life. It’s an honor for me to be part of this journey alongside our amazing partners—Suchitra Mattai, Mindy Kaling, Guneet Monga Kapoor, and Shine Global. Telling meaningful stories that resonate with audiences is what drives us, and I’m beyond thrilled to see ‘Anuja’ receive this well-deserved recognition.”

With Netflix’s platform in over 190 countries, Anuja will reach global audiences, furthering Shine Global’s goal to spark dialogue around child labor and education.

Additional members of the producing team are Krushan Naik (Resurgence), Aaron Kopp (Saving Face, Liyana, Hunting Ground), and Ksheetij Saini. Along with actors Pathan and Shanbhag, the film also features popular award-winning Indian television actor, Nagesh Bhonsle, best known internationally for his supporting role as police deputy commissioner, “Vam” in Hotel Mumbai starring Dev Patel. Other team members include Co-Executive Producers Susan MacLaury, Albie Hecht, and Archana Jain, and Executive Producers Michael Graves and Anita Bhatia with original music by Fabrizio Mancinelli.

The nomination for Anuja comes after having won several film festival awards including the Oscar-qualifying award of Best Live Action Short at the HollyShorts Film Festival, the Audience Award at Montclair Film Festival, and the Grand Prize at the New York International Short Film Festival and continues to garner critical acclaim for its emotional depth and social impact. The 97th Academy Awards ceremony will be on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025.

You can make a donation to support Shine Global’s efforts using Anuja as a tool to combat child labor.

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce inspiring films and compelling content about underserved children. Through tailored distribution and outreach, we connect with our audiences in communities, classrooms, museums, and on Capitol Hill as part of a powerful engagement campaign to encourage social change.
Since our founding in 2005, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente and an Academy Award®-nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance. Recent films include the documentary-animation hybrid Liyana, the hit documentary The Eagle Huntress, Through Our Eyes: Homefront which is available on HBOMax, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE AWARDS
These awards recognize and celebrate the films and filmmakers that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity. The awards are open to films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

VIEW ALL POSTS

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Netflix Acquires Oscar-Shortlisted Short Film Anuja

by Shine Global | Jan 14, 2025 | Shine News

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Netflix Acquires Oscar-Shortlisted Short Film Anuja

Priyanka Chopra Jonas Joins as Executive Producer

Shine Global is thrilled to share that Anuja, the Oscar-shortlisted live-action short film by Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai, has been acquired by Netflix for worldwide streaming. This announcement follows last week’s news that global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas has joined the project as Executive Producer, amplifying the film’s reach and impact.

Anuja tells the story of a 9-year-old girl, played by Sajda Pathan, who works alongside her sister Palak (Ananya Shanbhag) in a garment factory in Delhi, India. The film captures her journey as she faces a life-altering decision that will determine her family’s fate and her own future. Developed in partnership with the Salaam Baalak Trust, which supports street and working children, the film’s authenticity is underscored by Pathan’s real-life experience as a survivor of the streets of Delhi.

“Anuja is a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and untold stories of working children, highlighting their joy and hope amidst challenges,” said director Adam J. Graves. “I’m grateful to our producers and to Netflix for giving this important story a global platform, connecting audiences worldwide to the strength of these remarkable children.”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared upon joining the project, “This beautiful film shines a spotlight on a subject that affects millions of children around the world… Anuja is a poignant, thought-provoking piece that makes us reflect deeply on the power of choices and how they shape the course of our lives. I am immensely proud to be associated with such a phenomenal and impactful project.”

Suchitra Mattai, the film’s producer and an acclaimed multidisciplinary artist, added, “Priyanka’s faith in the power of ‘Anuja’s story means a lot to us, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her join our team.”

Anuja has been championed by a powerhouse team of producers, including Emmy and Oscar-winning Shine Global, Guneet Monga Kapoor (Oscar winner for The Elephant Whisperers), and Mindy Kaling. Producer Alexandra Blaney, Co-CEO and Creative Director of Shine Global, remarked, “We are so proud to see Anuja continue to break barriers and resonate globally. Netflix’s acquisition ensures that the story of Anuja and her sister will inspire audiences worldwide, shining a light on the resilience and strength of children facing unimaginable challenges.”

With Netflix’s platform in over 190 countries, Anuja will reach global audiences, furthering Shine Global’s goal to spark dialogue around child labor and education.

Additional members of the producing team are Krushan Naik (Resurgence), Aaron Kopp (Saving Face, Liyana, Hunting Ground), and Ksheetij Saini. Along with actors Pathan and Shanbhag, the film also features popular award-winning Indian television actor, Nagesh Bhonsle, best known internationally for his supporting role as police deputy commissioner, “Vam” in Hotel Mumbai starring Dev Patel. Other team members include Co-Executive Producers Susan MacLaury, Albie Hecht, and Archana Jain, and Executive Producers Michael Graves and Anita Bhatia with original music by Fabrizio Mancinelli.

The film is shortlisted for the 2025 Oscars® after having won several film festival awards including Best Live Action Short at the HollyShorts Film Festival, the Audience Award at Montclair Film Festival, and the Grand Prize at the New York International Short Film Festival and continues to garner critical acclaim for its emotional depth and social impact. Stay tuned for its release on Netflix and join the conversation about resilience, hope, and the power of storytelling.

You can make a donation to support Shine Global’s efforts using Anuja as a tool to combat child labor.

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About Shine Global
Shine Global is a non-profit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce inspiring films and compelling content about underserved children. Through tailored distribution and outreach, we connect with our audiences in communities, classrooms, museums, and on Capitol Hill as part of a powerful engagement campaign to encourage social change.
Since our founding in 2005, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente and an Academy Award®-nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance. Recent films include the documentary-animation hybrid Liyana, the hit documentary The Eagle Huntress, Through Our Eyes: Homefront which is available on HBOMax, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and Comedy Against the Odds which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE AWARDS
These awards recognize and celebrate the films and filmmakers that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity. The awards are open to films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.

VIEW ALL POSTS

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