A tribute to the resiliency of childhood and the restorative power of art, Born into Brothels is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in the red light district of Calcutta, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Zana Briski, a New York-based photographer, gives each of the children a camera and teaches them to look at the world with new eyes.
Together with Ross Kauffman, Briski captures the magical way in which beauty can be found in the most unlikely of places and how a bright and promising future becomes a possibility for children who previously had no future at all.


In English and Bengali with English subtitles


A Red Light Films, Inc. Production

The film, released by THINKFilm, premiered theatrically at the Film Forum in New York City in December 2004. It has since opened in over one hundred theatres nationwide. It premiered on HBO/Cinemax on Tuesday, August 16th, 2005.

The music soundtrack to the film is now available for order, and the film is also available on DVD.

The photographs taken by the children in Born into Brothels are available for purchase in the Kids' Gallery, and as a signed limited-edition portfolio, or as a compilation in our companion book. 100% of proceeds from sales of the children's prints go directly to support their education and well-being.


2005 | 77th annual Academy Award | HOLLYWOOD, USA | held on February 27, 2005, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California |
* Best Documentary Feature

Awards

* 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature - Briski, Kauffman
* 2004 Bermuda International Film Festival - Audience Choice Award - Briski, Kauffman
o Documentary Prize - Briski, Kauffman
* 2004 Cleveland International Film Festival - Best Film - Briski, Kauffman
* 2004 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Audience Award - Briski, Kauffman (tied with World Wars
* 2004 National Board of Review Award for Best Documentary
* 2004 Seattle International Film Festival Golden Space Needle Award - Briski, Kauffman
* 2004 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award - Documentary - Kauffman

Nominations

* Directors Guild of America 2005 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary - Briski, Kauffman
* 2005 Golden Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture - Documentary
* 2004 International Documentary Association Award for Feature Documentaries - Briski, Kauffman, Dreyfous-White, Boll
* 2004 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film
* 2004 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - Documentary - Kauffman, Briski