Sister Josefina Albuquerque, a Catholic nun residing in Mumbai, India, has ventured into the world of filmmaking, driven by her passion for both cinema and education. Her creative expression took the form of a powerful seven-minute fiction film, crafted solely using a mobile phone, and completed in just two days.
Sister Josefina is a member of the Religious of Jesus and Mary Congregation and currently serves as the headmistress of St. Agnes High School in Byculla, Mumbai. Alongside her role as an educator, she harbored a deep-seated love for filmmaking, particularly excelling in cinematography. Despite lacking writing skills, she found her niche in the visual aspects of filmmaking.
The COVID-19 lockdown presented her with an opportunity to acquire the necessary skills for film production and editing. During one of her visits, she was captivated by the way of life of the tribal communities residing in Mumbai's Aarey forest. This experience served as the catalyst for her documentary project, titled "Under the Banyan Tree: A Path to Self-Discovery." The film narrates the journey of an engineer who relinquished financial comforts to live amidst the Aarey forest in Mumbai, dedicating himself to educating people about finding their true purpose by advocating for their rights.
Sister Josefina's talent in cinematography garnered recognition when she produced a documentary shedding light on the lives of the tribal inhabitants of the Aarey forest.
In an interview with Vatican News, Sister Josefina, who oversees youth ministry in her religious community, observed that today's youth are predominantly engrossed in social media. Recognizing the need to connect with them through the world of media and digital studies, she made a pivotal decision. She decided to enroll in a professional filmmaking course, realizing that this was the path to effectively reach the youth.
While she continues her role as a school principal, Sister Josefina is currently pursuing the Professional Filmmaking Course at St. Paul's Communication Centre in Bandra, Mumbai. Her motivation for creating a film about children emerged as part of her professional filmmaking course.
Sister Josefina embarked on her film project, "D for Dumbo," on a modest budget at St. John the Evangelist School in Marol, Andheri, Mumbai. The story revolves around Sam, a fourth-grade student who faces ridicule because he struggles with math tables. However, he surprises everyone, including his classmates, when a different teacher assigns them a creative task.
The film garnered the top award from St. Paul's Institute in Bandra, Mumbai, and Sister Josefina received this recognition from the renowned Bollywood actor, Naseeruddin Shah. The film is currently on its way to the online ALP International Film Festival. Sister Josefina expressed her delight when Naseeruddin Shah personally identified with the protagonist during the convocation.
She described the award as a validation of her belief that by merging her passion for filmmaking with education, she can effectively reach a wider audience.
Sister Josefina firmly believes that, much like Jesus used parables to engage with the people of his time, films today are one of the most powerful tools for spreading the message of God to the world.
In her journey into the world of film, Sister Josefina demonstrates that even the most significant endeavors begin with a single step, echoing the wisdom of the Chinese proverb: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."