International Documentary & Short Film Festival Of
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FESTIVAL BOOK & OF KERALA INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL ID D TH SF I F SF F INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY & SHORT FILM FESTIVAL www.idsffk.in OF KERALA 16-20 JUNE 2017 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM | KAIRALI SREE NILA 10 TH IDSFFK 1 10TH IDSFFK 1 CREDITS Chairman & Festival Director, IDSFFK: Kamal Vice Chairperson & Artistic Director: Bina Paul Secretary & Executive Director: Mahesh Panju Treasurer: Zulfikar Rahman A Deputy Director (Festival): H Shaji Deputy Director (Programmes): N P Sajeesh Programme Manager (Finance): Radha Krishnan M Programme Manager (Festival): Deepika Suseelan Programme Manager (Programmes): Vimal Kumar V P Librarian (Technical Coordinator): Gopeekrishna S Online Media: Riyaz Ahamed Programme Assistants: Saiyed Farooq Z, Geethanjali C, Sreevidhya J, Revathy L Festival Cell: Sivakumar P S, Velayudhan Nair K, Mary Ninan, Padmakumar P R, Shyamlal S S, Harikumar K, Venukuttan Nair K, Ravikumar K, Jayakumari D, Sandhya B, Naveen Nath G S, Sukumaran K, Jaya L, Sasikala G, Arun R, Sahadevan R, Vijaya Mohan B, Lizy M, Omana J, Naveen L Johnson Filmmakers Liaison: Bandhu Prasad Aleyamma Guest Relations: Arjun A, Jayesh L R, Shelly J, M Rameez Media Relations: I & PRD, Government of Kerala Projectionists: John Kurian, Nishanth S T, Abhilash Software: Eventival, CDit Website Support : CDit Festival Design: B Priyaranjanlal Signature Film: Shameer Babu Festival Book Chief Editor: Mahesh Panju (Secretary, KSCA) Editor: H Shaji (Deputy Director, KSCA) Editorial Team: N P Sajeesh, Usha V T Word Processing & Page Setting: B Sivaprasad Academy is grateful to various film journals, festival publications, Film Festival websites from which we have borrowed materials to put together this book. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily that of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy or the Editors. Last minute changes to the programme have not been included in this book. Printed at: Akshara Offset, Thiruvananthapuram Published by: Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Lotus Villa, Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Tel: +91 471 2310323 MESSAGE I am happy to note that the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala organised by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is achieving a landmark this year as it completes a decade. Over the years, the Festival has been able to charm the practitioners of cinema who are focussed on documentaries and short films. The documentaries and short films have emerged the favourite channel of expression for the new generation who loves experimentation with technology and ideas. The wide variety of content offered by the festival has made it the favourite among filmmakers and moviegoers alike. I hope the festival will continue to be a space for dialogue and reflection offering more avenues for the cultural and political aspirations of the society. I wish you all an engaging and fruitful festival time at IDSFFK-2017. Pinarayi Vijayan Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala MESSAGE The International Documentary and Short Film Festival organised by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy under the Department of Cultural Affairs has turned out to be the most prominent one in India in its tenth edition. Apart from providing a venue for the young talents across the country, it offers space for exchange of ideas and politics. The films in fact showcase the thought process of the youth. About 200 movies which reflect the world around us intensely are screened at the five-day-long festival. These movies which narrate the endurance and survival of the people around the world are expected to offer film lovers comprehensive insight into the contemporary world. I would like to congratulate all the filmmakers who chose to express their creative ideas in a crispy medium. I wish that all the participants of the IDSFFK are presented with a rich fare of meaningful cinema. I also wish all the success to the organisers who work behind the scenes. A.K.Balan Hon'ble Minister for Welfare of SC, ST & BC, Law, Culture & Parliamentary Affairs WELCOME NOTE The energetic existence of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival (IDSFFK) during the past decade is the testament to the unflinching commitment of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy to promote the medium of documentaries and short films. The pioneering festival has turned out to be much sought after by budding and established talents alike. The IDSFFK has been able to offer vignettes that reflect the human conditions across the globe. It is heartening to note that more and more people are venturing into the medium which has been experiencing radical transformations. World over, the medium is lapped up by youngsters and oldies who loves to experiment with the art form giving the creative expression newer dimensions. Documentaries have acquired added charm and significance in the era of digital and social media. The genre has been making some major strides defying conventional definitions of fiction and non-fiction. The IDSFFK has acquired added significance amidst the attempts to stifle voices of dissent. We pledge that the Festival will strive to provide a democratic space for challenging established notions and raising questions. We welcome filmmakers and delegates to the Festival of togetherness. Kamal Chairman, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy & Festival Director, IDSFFK CHIEF EDITOR'S NOTE Right from the days of Edison and Lumiere, the division of the theatrical film and the documentary film was apparent. In fact, in the early days of cinema, documentary was more prominent than the fiction film. When Robert Flaherty made the Nanook of the North in 1922, it was an all time popular hit. Looking back at the history of this genre, one can find that it has evolved over the years through various innovations and styles and has withstood the test of time. This legitimacy is what gives us the strength to undertake the IDSFFK every year. Along with the developments abroad, we in India have also moved away from the Films Division style of documentary film to more inventive methods and styles. Apart from the camera looking at the world outside, it is also increasingly turning inward, looking at one’s immediate surroundings. Very often, filmmakers examine remote cultures and life styles; some ruminate on our environment and yet others deal with contemporary social issues and so on. There is a celebration of plurality and diversity here so characteristic of our country itself. There is an abundance of images to choose from whether it be from Maestro, Competition, Focus, Curated package, Vienna shorts and other sections. In fact, the event can be rightfully termed an image festival as there is no more celluloid film in this digital age! I welcome you all to five days of image feast. Mahesh Panju Secretary & Executive Director, IDSFFK A NOTE ON PROGRAMMING While the Documentary & Short Film Festival is slowly growing up, we look around and are bewildered by the changes that are happening so rapidly. Films have jumped out of the boundaries of the screen…now available on mobile phones, in art galleries over multiple screens, in performances, on the television. It’s as if cinema is breaking all boundaries. This is extremely interesting,at a time where in real life boundaries are getting more and more defined. We ask how does a festival respond to this dynamic exciting challenge that all these new forms are throwing up? How does a festival continue to remain relevant? The conversation begins with our two filmmakers in Focus: Mai Masri and Vipin Vijay. Neither of their work can be boxed as Fiction or Non Fiction…harsh realities mingle in the imagination to make powerful visual statements. Soundphiles, an aural experience, migrants from our diaspora using the camera to tell their own stories, some films of Wim Wenders, straight out of the oven award winners from the Vienna Short Film Festival, International Documentaries challenging the status quo. There is much in store for the viewer. We have the most interesting Documentary and Short Fiction from within our country, made by both the young discovering the media and the older who are telling important stories. These stories borne out of real life experiences cannot be quelled, and IDSFFK, is the platform that we provide. A moment of not only of seeing each other’s work but also of sharing experiences and making real friends. We also have one of India’s finest cinematographers Ranjan Palit, present to share his experiences and mentor budding camerapersons. The Festival days become a capsule of Diversity and camaraderie…we welcome you all to the sharing of experiences in these strange times. Bina Paul Vice Chairperson & Artistic Director, IDSFFK About us Activities International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK International Short & Documentary Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) A new initiative of the Academy was kick Kerala State Chalachitra started in 2008. It aims to catalyse a vibrant Academy: Growing from short and documentary film movement. Strength to Strength National Film Festivals (NFFK) In a pioneering initiative, the Government of Film Festivals in Collaboration with other Kerala set up Kerala State Chalachitra Academy countries and States (Motion Picture Academy of the Kerala State) Visual Appreciation Camps for Children in August 1998. The first of its kind in the Each year, the Academy organises visual country, the Academy is an effort to counter appreciation camps for children during the gross commoditization of the film medium summer holidays. and a rightful recognition of the contribution The camps aim to equip the children with of cinema to the cultural enlightenment of basic understanding and appreciation of the society. It is guided by the motto that films. Cinema should contribute to the complete development of human being, both as an Teachers’ Workshop on Film Appreciation individual and as a social being. The teacher empowerment programme promoted by the Academy addresses the The Academy today has become a major player critical issue of imparting cinema education in the cultural landscape of Kerala reaching to Teachers recognizing that they will catalyse students, teachers, and ordinary people the downward spread of film education.