‘Mothers of Courage’, a film documenting a grassroots movement led by women to improve girls’ education in Bihar, has been named a finalist in the Creativity category of the 2026 Heroes of Tomorrow: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards.
The UN SDG Action Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held in Rome on 29 October.
The documentary is part of an initiative by Shikshagraha, a national movement to strengthen public education. The movement has mobilised more than 1.19 million citizens across 14 districts of Bihar, according to the organisation.
The recognition comes after a string of awards and nominations for ‘Mothers of Courage’. The film was India’s only entry shortlisted in the Sustainable Development Goals Lions category at Cannes Lions 2026. It also won Best Inspirational Film at the Los Angeles Film Awards 2026 and received a Silver at the ABBY Awards 2026.
The film has also won Platinum and Gold SABRE Awards across South Asia and Asia Pacific and was named a finalist at the 7th Mumbai International Film Festival.
Challenging Social Norms
‘Mothers of Courage’ follows mothers and mothers-in-law in rural Bihar who are challenging social norms that can prevent girls from continuing their education.
While some women advocate for their daughters to remain in school, others support their daughters-in-law in returning to education, Shikshagraha said.
At the centre of the movement are Shiksha Chaupals, community gatherings where mothers and other members of the community discuss barriers to girls’ education, including child marriage.
More than 44,892 Shiksha Chaupals have been held across 14 districts in Bihar since October 2024, with communities making collective commitments to help girls stay in school and protect them from early marriage.
The documentary, directed by Vandana R and produced by Butterfly Effect Media, captures these conversations and the women driving change in their communities. “Its stories are rooted in the lives and experiences of women in Bihar and has now resonated beyond the communities where they originated,” the director said.