‘Pot of Gold’ wins big at Manchester Film Festival

Nonprofit Documentary takes home ‘Best Documentary Feature’ Award

Global humanitarian aid nonprofit Human Appeal today announces that its first feature-length documentary, Pot of Gold, has been named ‘Best Documentary Feature’ at the world-renowned Manchester Film Festival’s 10th edition.

In partnership with Manchester-based Chief Productions, Pot of Gold is a sustainability-focused documentary that centers around the nonprofit’s locally driven livelihood initiative with beekeepers in the mountains of Kashmir, Pakistan. It is the first foreign film ever shot in Azad Jammu & Kashmir - a misunderstood, historically rich and rarely visited region of Pakistan.

Selected from a category of 6 feature-length documentaries, the panel comprised esteemed judges: Tom Percival, features editor at Dexerto; Emily Murray, freelance film critic; Cameron Frew, deputy TV and movie editor at Dexerto; Matt Butler-Hart, filmmaker and festival alumnus; and Clarisse Loughrey, chief film critic for The Independent.

Taking audiences to the unseen valleys of Kashmir, Pot of Gold tells the heart-warming story of beekeeper Shakeel Ahmed Khan and his fellow beekeepers as they find themselves on the frontlines of environmental chaos following the most destructive monsoon the country has ever seen. As the impacts of climate change destabilize the region, Pot of Gold highlights the vulnerability and resilience of local communities, underscores the importance of local sustainability projects, and depicts the wisdom and resilience of the Kashmiri people.

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The film from Chief Productions and Human Appeal is produced, authored and co-directed by Billy Offland alongside co-director and director of photography Olivier Richomme. Colin Offland and Nate Camponi are executive producers, Alan Hamilton and James Cross are writers.

“Our team was ecstatic to hear that Pot of Gold, our first documentary film, was awarded Best Documentary Feature,” said Owais Khan, Deputy CEO of Human Appeal. “Working with Chief Productions to bring to life the story of the resilient people of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir region has been an incredible experience, and to see the film resonate with the judging panel is a wonderful recognition. Our motto at Human Appeal is ‘here for every human’, and so to have the support of the BAFTA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival means that we can continue to raise awareness of the effects of the climate crisis, and how remote communities need our support more than ever.”

“Pot of Gold is not only an exploration of the imminent danger the climate crisis poses to human and non-human life, it’s a unique exposition of how the resilience of remote communities and sustainable projects can confront these devastating effects, whilst bringing hope and prosperity to the people,” Billy Offland, producer of Pot of Gold, Chief Productions said. “Capturing the projects journey took a serious team effort and painstaking commitment, every department putting the hard yards to make something we believe is powerful, unique and entertaining. We’re hugely grateful that this work has been recognized and celebrated by Manchester Film Festival and we congratulate the other entrants on their work.”

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Credits
- Executive Producer: Colin Offland
- Producer: Billy Offland
- Authored by: Billy Offland
- Co-Directors: Olivier Richomme & Billy Offland
- Director of Photography: Olivier Richomme
- Written by: Alan Hamilton & James Cross

About Chief
Chief is an award-winning creative film production company based in Manchester's Media City. Established in 2002, it has grown to become one of the largest independent production companies in the UK. Chief boasts a roster of 16 directors, working on films for globally recognized brands. The company also features a 10,000 sq. ft on-site studio, production office, and in-house post-production facilities.

For more information, visit: www.chief.tv

About Human Appeal
Here for Every Human.

Human Appeal is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening humanity’s fight against poverty, social injustice, and natural disasters. Through the provision of immediate relief and the establishment of self-sustaining development programs, we aim to save and transform lives.

For more information, visit: www.humanappealUSA.org or contact: [email protected]

Human Appeal USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Tax ID #: 87-2410117. Your donations are tax-deductible.

Address:
Human Appeal Inc.
26050 Acero, Suite 415
Mission Viejo, CA 92691, USA

Phone: (469) 262-2291

Media Contact:
Interdependence PR
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 919-741-9784