Music by Prudence: Oscar-winning documentary screened at UNESCO
02-12-2010 (Paris)
Poster of the film
© iThemba Productions
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated on 3 December, and in relation to the promotion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNESCO is organizing a screening ceremony of the 2010 Oscar-winning documentary Music by Prudence, produced by Roger Ross Williams (USA).
Music by Prudence is a film about a young Zimbabwean singer whose voice could not be silenced by abandonment, abuse or abject poverty. It has received an Award of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscar) in the category of “Documentary: Short Subject” in 2010. Produced by iThemba Productions and Elinor Burkett, the 33-minute documentary stars Prudence Mabhena, a talented young woman from Zimbabwe suffering from arthrogryposis, a rare disorder that severely deforms the joints of the body.
Prudence, who sings in five languages, is sharing her astounding talent with the world. The story of Prudence and her band of fellow disabled musicians, Liyana, is one of courage, hope and music. “You quickly forget that Prudence is disabled because she’s such an amazing, dynamic person. It’s unbelievable that a girl left in a hut to die is now celebrated in the world for her talent. I hope everyone gets to see this movie and to know her the way that I do,” says Roger Williams.
This film contributes to the promotion of social inclusion of people with disabilities around the world and will be screened for the first time in Paris. It illustrates how persons with disabilities use their talent and capacities to cope with diverse social, economic and cultural barriers.
The screening will take place at UNESCO Headquarters on 3 December 2010, at 6 p.m., in Room XI. The film will be projected in its original version in English, subtitled in English and simultaneously translated into French. It will be followed by a debate with the producer, Roger Williams.
More information about the film and its producer is available here.
Prudence, who sings in five languages, is sharing her astounding talent with the world. The story of Prudence and her band of fellow disabled musicians, Liyana, is one of courage, hope and music. “You quickly forget that Prudence is disabled because she’s such an amazing, dynamic person. It’s unbelievable that a girl left in a hut to die is now celebrated in the world for her talent. I hope everyone gets to see this movie and to know her the way that I do,” says Roger Williams.
This film contributes to the promotion of social inclusion of people with disabilities around the world and will be screened for the first time in Paris. It illustrates how persons with disabilities use their talent and capacities to cope with diverse social, economic and cultural barriers.
The screening will take place at UNESCO Headquarters on 3 December 2010, at 6 p.m., in Room XI. The film will be projected in its original version in English, subtitled in English and simultaneously translated into French. It will be followed by a debate with the producer, Roger Williams.
More information about the film and its producer is available here.
Shot from Music by Prudence
iThemba Productions
Shot from Music by Prudence
iThemba Productions
Related themes/countries
· Zimbabwe
· People with Disabilities and ICT
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Contact
- Irmgarda Kasinskaite, UNESCO, Information Society Division
- Daria Tsukanova, UNESCO, Information Society Division
- UNESCO
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