No Problem! Six Months with the Barefoot Grandmamas directed by Delhi-based filmmaker Yasmin Kidwai was declared the Best Documentary at the recently concluded Zanzibar International Film Festival.

Besides the Best Documentary prize, the film also won the Ousmane Sembene Award comprising a cash prize of  5000 USD. The award is given to a film which best focuses on a development issue and presents it in an entertaining manner. Winning all these accolades never seemed enough, the movie is also going to be screened at the Indian Film Festival in Stuttgart.

In the documentary,  women come together from across six countries  to train as Solar Engineers and travel to India to be a part of the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan – a pioneer in solar electrification in remote rural villages since 1989.

Appreciating the film, the Jury said in its statement: “It’s a rare depiction of successful South-to-South cooperation. This exceptional documentary shows us that wherever there is hope, understanding, commitment and humanity; solutions can be designed, implemented and made to benefit the vulnerable.  No Problem! Six Months with the Barefoot Grandmamas is a skillful documentary by a visibly confident and compassionate female director on women who go from being considered ‘illiterate’ to being called ‘engineers’ and re-positioning themselves in their communities.”