The four-day international film festival CIFFI2019 started off with great energy, zest and zeal. The guest of honour was Mr. Khalid Mohamed- author, journalist international and a screenwriter. The other eminent dignitaries present at the inaugural session were Ms. Ravneet Pawha, Ms. Saara Lamberg, eminent filmmaker from Australia, Mr. R K Arora, CEO, Swen Today,...
Masala v/s Realism – A Juxtaposition!
The purpose of art is to communicate in a way other forms can’t do. So artists, through films try and communicate the same to their audience. Film, for more than 100 years have been entertaining us and the film-makers have been communicating various things that otherwise would have been impossible. From silent era to talkies,...
Mere Pass Cine-Maa Hai
We, as humans, as social beings, need entertainment in our daily lives. It has been a way for us to pass down our culture, values and even history from one generation to the other. In the ancient times, modes such as puppetry shows, folklore, and religious programs were popular for the purpose but the 20th...
Larger than life Hero: Amol Palekar
One of the finest and suave artists in the Indian Cinema Amol Palekar has completed more than 50 years in the Industry. He has contributed in the parallel cinema by giving full of life and memorable performances. During 1970s and 1980s parallel cinema gave chances to newcomer artists who had shown their dazzling performances and...
Flamboyant portrayal of India’s social spectrum: A Journey
Cinema in India plays a very crucial role with its effects on-screen as well as off the screen. Ever since India gained its independence, it has gone through both, tumultuous changes and great developments in all fields. From an agro based economy to a Capitalist Economic framework, the country has imbibed all colours and shades....
Ritwik Ghatak: An Underrated Genius
Very few people in the world are blessed to be able to experience the accolades for their contribution in their life span, others are called maverick underrated genius like Ritwik Ghatak. Ritwik Ghatak, born on 4th Nov 1925 and going on to live for 50 years breathing his last on 6th Feb 1976, was one...
The Story of Ferguson through the Eyes of the People Who Lived it
By the time we wrapped our last shooting day, we had collected over 300 hours of footage. Lungs shouted for justice and moments later filled with teargas. A father baked cookies during a moment of peace. A police chief and a mayor cited lack of data. Our creative team quickly realized we had several possible...
“Communication Is Where a Film Lives and Dies”: Director Zoe Lister-Jones
Communication is where a film lives and dies. It is essential for efficacy, for performance, and ultimately for translating a director’s vision to the screen. To me communication is less about the art of talking than it is about the art of listening. I hired an all-female crew on Band Aid, which was deliberate on...
Profound Communication Only Happens When There Is Persistence
I often ask myself, how does each of us weave our own responsibilities into the pattern of history? How can I tell stories about human rights and the quest for justice yet engage people who are uninterested or apathetic? And the answer has always brought me back to this idea of the persistence of vision....
“A Huge Historical Project”: Editor Kim Miille on Tell Them We Are Rising
MacArthur Fellow Stanley Nelson has devoted his career to documentary explorations of the African American experience. The 65-year-old director/producer has made films on Marcus Garvey, the Freedom Riders and the Black Panthers. His most recent film is Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities, which premiered this week at the...