Humanitarian Awards Recognize Firdaus Kharas’ Body Of Work

Chocolate Moose Media (CMM) and founder Firdaus Kharas have been honoured today with three Humanitarian Outstanding Achievement Awards from the Accolade Competition for their body of work during 2017. The awards for the multi-lingual animated videos Violence Against Children in Malawi, The Migrant, I Am Not A Victim, Asbestos Kills, A Plea To My Father and Show You Care, Wear A Pair come from the Accolade Global Film Competition, Best Shorts Competition and the IndieFEST Film Awards.

The awards are given to filmmakers who are committed to making a difference in the world through film and videos that highlight critical needs of our time. In 2017 CMM focussed on violence against children; rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; diseases like asbestos-caused mesothelioma and migraine headaches; and intolerance towards and acceptance of forced immigrants in multiple countries. Co-producers include Harper Hill Global, United Methodist Communications, Catholic Relief Services, UNICEF, the Association of Migraine Disorders and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

“I am grateful to the organizers who nominated my animations for these awards in the humanitarian category. Recognition such as this serves a major purpose by bringing attention to these animated productions so that they will be more widely used. The impact of the videos accelerate action, and so more lives are improved or saved,” Kharas says.

During the past 25 years his work has focussed on issues that plague huge parts of the world’s population – ranging from social justice to disease prevention to refugee and environmental issues. His use of animation brings a unique perspective to how these issues are revealed and confronted. All his videos are available on Vimeo for free use.

This work by CMM and many others sets the standard for humanitarian communications, says Accolade Global Film Competition Chairman Rick Prickett. “It takes great talent to tackle the world’s most pressing issues with film and do a great job. It takes an even greater heart,” he adds.

The award brings to 103 the number of Kharas’ international awards, putting him firmly within the humanitarian world’s top honour roll.