♦ Film-maker Vinod Ganatra received the prestigious ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’ of South Africa for his contribution to films. He has become the first Indian to be conferred this award. He was honoured this award at the 7th Nelson Mandela Children’s Film Festival, for his immense contributions to the world of cinema for kids.

♦ Ganatra has bagged 36 national and international awards, including the ‘Janakinath Gaur Award’ from Doordarshan for his children’s programme, ‘Baingan Raja.’ He became the only Indian filmmaker to receive the ‘Liv Ullmann Peace Prize’, in Chicago, for his Gujarati film, ‘Harun-Arun’