The Livingston Public Library hosted a special community event, honouring filmmaker, author and LGBTQ+ activist Onir (Anirban Dhar). The organisation celebrated his contributions to cinema and social change.
The evening was marked by a memorable moment when Livingston Mayor Ed Meinhardt and Council Member Ketan Bhuptani presented Onir with an official Township Citation. They recognised his work in promoting visibility, equality and compassion through films.
At the event, Mayor Meinhardt praised Onir as “a true trailblazer whose courage and creativity have inspired audiences around the world.” He added that “it is an honour for Livingston to host a visionary who reminds us that humanity shines brightest when it celebrates diversity.”
The event opened with remarks by Shashank Singh, founder of Indians in Livingston (IIL) and Bakstage.AI. He said, “Onir’s films have touched countless lives and his storytelling continues to bridge cultures and conversations around the world.” This Award comes to Onir after being conferred the Icon Award at the International South Asian Film Festival, Canada for consistently creating cinema that “pushes boundaries, highlights underrepresented voices, and sparks dialogue around issues often left outside the mainstream.”
Onir’s latest release includes the movie We Are Faheem and Karun. The movie has already been screened in several film festivals, including the Dharamshala International Film Festival. During an exclusive interview with Filmfare, Onir had opened up about the response he received at several film festivals. “For me, the first international screening was at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, which is one of the largest queer film festivals. Within the first two days, both the shows were totally sold out. It was really overwhelming. There’s a lot of love that I found from the audience,” he noted.
Also Read: Filmmaker Onir Honoured With The Icon Award at ISAFF Red Carpet Gala in Vancouver
