Writing with Fire


Writing with Fire is a 2021 Indian documentary film directed by filmmakers Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas about the journalists running the Dalit women led newspaper Khabar Lahariya, as they shift from 14-years of print to digital journalism using smartphones. It is the first Indian feature documentary to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Produced under Ghosh and Thomas' Black Ticket Films banner, the film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it won two awards, the Audience Award and a Special Jury Award in the World Cinema Documentary category. It received unanimous acclaim from film festivals and critics, winning several international awards and critical acclaim from the press. It was named a "Critics Pick" by The New York Times, and Jason Rezaian at The Washington Post called it "the most inspiring journalism movie — maybe ever". In 2023, Writing With Fire won a Peabody Award for Best Documentary Film, making Rintu and Sushmit the first Indian filmmakers in the award's 83-year history to win this recognition.

Synopsis

Writing with Fire tells the story of Khabar Lahariya, the only news agency in India run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, these women journalists report from some of the most difficult regions of the country, risking everything to speak truth to power. Led by Chief Reporter Meera and her feisty understudy, crime reporter Suneeta, the film bears witness to the wit, intelligence and compassion of these journalists in confronting the most urgent stories of our times.
Set in the backdrop of an increasingly polarized world, Writing with Fire journeys with Meera and her band of sisters for five years - as they break traditions on the frontlines of India's biggest issues and within the confines of their homes, redefining what it truly means to be powerful.

Release

Writing With Fire had its theatrical opening in November 2021 in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Austin - making it the first Indian documentary film to have a US theatrical release. With the overwhelmingly positive critics reviews and audience response to the film’s opening week, screenings expanded to more cities across the US. Also in the United States, Writing With Fire was also released on 28 March 2022, part of the Independent Lens series on PBS.

Reception

Critical reception

The film has garnered a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics based on 51 reviews, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Writing with Fire pays stirring tribute to the power of journalism -- and presents a chilling glimpse of the forces aligned against it."
Jessica Kiang from Variety reviewed the film as a "rousing, inspirational tribute to the pride of grassroots Indian journalism". Inkoo Kang at The Hollywood Reporter called the film "insightful and inspirational". while Kate Erbland at IndieWire reviewed it "profound". The Los Angeles Times called the film "a vital, stimulating dispatch from the frontlines of consequential citizen journalism" while the San Francisco Chronicle, giving the film a 5-star review, said "even Woodward and Bernstein would be inspired by the women reporters of India's Writing with Fire".

Reception by ''Khabar Lahariya'' journalists

The film and its impact was received positively by Kavita Devi, the co-founder of Khabar Lahariya, and various team members who appeared with the film at film festivals and conferences with the filmmakers over 14 months since its world premiere at Sundance. Meera Devi, the main protagonist of Writing With Fire and Managing Editor of the news outlet, described the impact of the film as "From a global perspective, we have become a lot more popular since the film came out . Both personally and professionally, it has really amplified the newspaper and its work. We have witnessed a completely different kind of popularity – and that is really good." Describing the unique relevance of the film, filmmaker Shabani Hassanwalia, a board member of Khabar Lahariya wrote, "May this documentary, which follows three KL journalists through a critical phase of Khabar Lahariya’s evolution, be watched far and wide, and may it continue to do what great documentaries are made to do: bear witness to truths that help us see, for the first time." Over a year later, once the film was nominated for an Academy Award, the organisation issued a statement criticising the film for presenting a simplified, incomplete profile of their work and "consuming focus of reporting on one party", which NPR identified as the Bharatiya Janata Party, India's national ruling party. Srishti Mehra, outreach manager at Chambal Media, claimed that this "misrepresentation" could negatively affect the security and reputation of Khabar Lahariya and its journalists.

Accolades

Following its release, Writing with Fire was showcased at numerous film festivals and won several awards, including the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for Change and the World Cinema Documentary Competition Audience Award at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. In December 2021, it was announced that the film had entered the shortlist of candidates for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, and the next February it was announced that it had been nominated in this category.
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResult
Academy Awards27 March 2022Best Documentary FeatureRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshNomitated
Asia Pacific Screen Awards11 November 2021Best Documentary Feature Film|Best Documentary Feature Film]Rintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshNomitated
Belfast Film Festival13 November 2021Maysles Brothers Award for Feature DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Bergen International Film Festival28 October 2021Checkpoints Award for Best Human Rights DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
BlackStar Film Festival9 August 2021Best Documentary FeatureWriting with FireWon
BlackStar Film Festival9 August 2021Audience Award – Best Documentary FeatureWriting with FireWon
Cinema Eye Honors1 March 2022Audience Choice PrizeRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshNomitated
Cinema Eye Honors1 March 2022The UnforgettablesMeera DeviWon
Cinema for Peace AwardsWomen's EmpowermentWriting with FireWon
Dokufest14 August 2021Truth DoxRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Films from the South Festival18 November 2021Doc:South AwardRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
IDA Documentary Awards4 March 2022Best FeatureRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshNomitated
International [Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam]26 November 2021NPO IDFA Audience AwardRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Kraków Film Festival5 June 2021Silver Horn for Best Film on Social IssuesRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Kyiv [International Film Festival "Molodist"]5 June 2021Best DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Mountainfilm31 May 2021Special Jury Prize – Best Documentary FeatureRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Peabody AwardsPeabody Award winners (2020–2029)#2022|11 June 2023]DocumentaryWriting with FireWon
Producers Guild of America Awards33rd [Producers Guild of America Awards|19 March 2022]Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion PicturesRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshNomitated
San Francisco International Film Festival17 April 2021McBaine Documentary Feature AwardRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Seattle International Film Festival18 April 2021Special Jury Prize – Documentary CompetitionWriting with FireWon
Social Impact Media Awards10 February 2022Best DocumentaryWriting with FireNomitated
Social Impact Media Awards10 February 2022Best DirectorRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Social Impact Media Awards10 February 2022Best CinematographySushmit Ghosh and Karan ThapliyalWon
Sundance Film Festival2 February 2021Audience Award: World Cinema DocumentaryRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Sundance Film Festival2 February 2021World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Impact for ChangeRintu Thomas and Sushmit GhoshWon
Valladolid International Film Festival30 October 2021Time of History AwardWriting with FireWon
Valladolid International Film Festival30 October 2021Fundos AwardWriting with FireWon
Wisconsin Film Festival20 May 2021Audience Favorite Documentary FeatureWriting with FireWon
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival14 October 2021Citizens' PrizeWriting with FireWon