The Unsung has been awarded Best Director at the South Asian Film Festival of Australia (SAFFA), 2023. The film, directed by Sarah Thomas and produced by STOM Productions, premiered in Australia at the HOYTS Black Town Cinema in Sydney.
This was The Unsung’s 27th film festival across 12 countries. SAFFA stated that the film was shortlisted from over 2093 films from around the world. The festival judges praised the film's quality and skillful storytelling, stating that they were thoroughly impressed by its director's talent and vision. The premiere was received positively by audiences.
Director Sarah Thomas spoke of her intentions behind "The Unsung," a film that sheds light on the fading tribe of Halakki Vokkaliga, who are living on the fringes of modern society. "The film was made with the intention of telling the world the stories of the Halakki Vokkaliga, a reflection of several 100 others losing bits of their identity and culture every day," she said.
Underscoring the significance of preserving the cultural identity and customs of native communities, Sarah told the festival, “There is a dire need to protect indigenous cultures and communities that are grappling against the tides of modernisation and westernisation. The aim of The Unsung was to throw light on the current situation of the tribes in India and why the system should do more to protect them.”
In her statement, Sarah expressed her appreciation for the acknowledgment and commendation that "The Unsung" has been receiving, "I feel immense gratitude and happiness to know that the film is reaching new audiences and the stories of the tribe are being heard by so many across the world." She also thanked the South Asian Film Festival of Australia and the jury for the award and wished her fellow filmmakers a whole lot of love and success. "May we always find stories that matter and may we always tell them with integrity," she concluded.