Kathmandu, Oct. 25 -- The Nepali filmA Scarecrowhas won the UNICEF Iris 75 award at theUNICEF Innocenti Film Festival 2021(UIFF) in Florence for its portrayal of what it means to be a girl child in Nepal today.

An international jury selectedA Scarecrowwritten and directed by self-taught Nepali filmmaker, Rajesh Prasad Khatri, for the top award. Khatri, who is also a schoolteacher, is said to accurately depict the cultural barriers that often prevent young girls from gaining an education.

"Being a teacher in the remotest village, I have had the privilege to interact with a group of innocent kids where I always learn to feel the stories of each students' cold homes, broken dreams, and their tears along with my experience." Khatri said. "M...