A FILM about the plight of a tribe in eastern India, made by a former Budehaven student, was launched at the House of Commons this month.

Twenty seven year old Lewis Davies works for Survival International, an organisation which supports tribal people worldwide.

Lewis, who studied Drama and Theatre Studies at Middlesex University after leaving Budehaven School, joined Survival's film unit in September last year. Less than two months after starting the job, he travelled to Orissa in eastern India, and along with another Survival colleague, made a short film about the Dongria Kondh tribe, whose sacred mountain is due to be mined by a British company.

The film was launched on Wednesday, April 1 at the Houses of Commons, and can be watched on Survival's website, http://www.survival-international.org/mine">www.survival-international.org/mine.

Narrated by British actress Joanna Lumley, 'Mine: story of a sacred mountain' reveals the hidden story of the remote Dongria Kondh tribe and their battle to stop a vast bauxite mine destroying their land and way of life.

Lewis said: "Before coming to work for Survival International I worked in broadcast television for over four years. I started as a runner and worked my way up to become a camera operator, working on a variety of formats on the way including, sports, documentary and studio productions.

"During this period, in my spare time, I continued to work on low-budget short films, which have always been my passion. By coming to work for Survival I was able to make this passion a full time job and use it to help do something worthwhile."