FIRST FESTIVAL HAND BOOK 25, 26, 27 Jan 2019 Munnar, Kerala, India 25, 26, 27 Jan 2019 Munnar, Kerala, India Organized by: Birds Club International Jayaraj foundation, Narayaneeyam, Muttambalam, Kottayam, Kerala, India, Pin: 686004 E-mail [email protected] | www.birdsclubinternational.com tribute Festival Director JAYARAJ Deputy Director PRADEEP M. NAIR Deputy Director (Programmes) PRADEEP NAIR Executive Committee JITHIN K, GOPIKRISHNAN, DEVAN MADHATHIL, UNNI RAMAPURAM Technical Support BALU PARAMESWAR Media Relations MANJU GOPINATH Content Co Coordinator RENEESH SHORNUR Festival Branding VIVEK VveQ Design Support JOBIN PAPER BOAT Production Controller(festival) SAJI KOTTAYAM Website Designers SHANI AZINOVA Signature Film SHANTHANU GOPINATHAN Signature Film Music SACHIN SHANKAR MANNATH Festival Book Chief Editor : JAYARAJ (Founder, Birds Club International) Book Design : SADEESH CHALIPPADAM, HISHAM Published by : Mrinal Sen Lenin Rajendran Birds Club International, [1923-2018] [1951-2019] Jayaraj foundation, Narayaneeyam, Muttambalam, Kottayam Message Message I am happy to learn that 1st Rain International Nature Film It gives me immense pleasure to know that the 1st Rain Festival (RINFF-2019) is being organised by Birds Club International Film Festival is being organised by Birds Club International in association with department of Tourism, International in Munnar from January 25-27, 2019. Government of India from 25th January, 2018 in Munnar. I am positive this festival would act as platform to facilitate The festival brings a good opportunity for filmmakers, conversation about nature mainly through films. Cinema professionals, students and the public to meet and initiate would act as a primary medium through which the importance much needed conversations concerning nature and wildlife. of protecting nature, wildlife and other global environment concerns would be brought to the fore. Further participants I extend my warm greetings and felicitations to the organisers from varying cultures and age groups would bring in diverse and participants of Rain International Film Festival and wish perspectives, views and opinions which could be put to RINFF-2019 every success. constructive use. I extend my warm regards to the organisers and participants of K J Alphons RINFF - 2019. May this festival be a great success. Minister of State(IC) for Tourism Government of India, New Delhi K. Raju Minister for Forests, Wildlife Protection, Animal husbandry, Dairy Development Milk co-operative and Zoos Government of Kerala CHIEF ADVISOR’S MESSAGE The first edition of the Rain International Nature Film Festival organised by Birds club International, opens in Munnar, Kerala on 25th January 2019. ‘The Birds Club International’ is one of the two projects initiated by Ja- yaraj Foundation in Kottayam, Kerala. Jayaraj whom I have now known for over two decades, is a true humanist and a remarkably sensitive film- maker. Having won several National and International awards, his recognition and success have only spurred the humanist in him to give-back, share and inspire other fellow humans on the journey of Life!. It is to the singular credit of his vision that these institutions have Message been set-up, with the sole objective of sensitizing peo- ple, particularly children, towards the aesthetics and I am very happy to learn that the First Rain International Nature beauty of art, nature, and music. Film Festival is being organised by Birds Club International at Albert Einstein is quoted to have said- “Look deep into Munnar during January 25-27, 2019. nature, and then you will understand everything better.” I hope it will be a great success as the Festival is expected to Nature has played a very important element in most of showcase Cinema, from all over the world, highlighting one of Jayarajs films. It is therefore not surprising that he has the most relevant topic – Nature Protection. taken upon himself, the task of sharing his love of na- ture with others through the foundation, the Birds club Best wishes to all participants and organisers of the Rain and now - the Rain International Nature film festival. International Nature Film Festival. To Jayaraj personally and to all those who are reading these lines, I share an excerpt on nature by the great mystic Osho - “If you can trust nature, by and by you C.RAVEENDRANATH become quiet, silent, happy, joyful, celebrating – be- MINISTER FOR GENERAL EDUCATION cause nature is celebrating. Nature is a celebration. Government of Kerala Look all around….” (Ecstasy:The Forgotten Language, Ch 6, Q2). I am certain that the first edition of the ‘Rain Interna- tional Nature Film Festival’ will be a grand success and Shankar Mohan will help generate much love and awareness towards Former Director, IFFI, Goa Mother Nature. My fullest support and sincere good SRFTI, Kolkata wishes to my friend Jayaraj, and the Rain International MIFF, Mumbai Nature Film Festival, of which I am the chief adviser. DFF, Delhi International Jury Chairman Message With the advancement of Science and Technology our understanding of universe has increased. But with urbanization our contact with nature has diminished. We gained the knowledge but lost the organic contact with nature. Thus we fail to put knowledge into action. At this juncture the initiative taken by Sri Jayaraj and Birds Club International to organize Message First Rain Tree International Nature Film Festival which aims at promoting global interest in birds, conservation of nature and the environment through public campaigns and education is very timely. I wish the festival all the best. I would like to welcome you all to the first edition of the Rain International Nature Film Festival here at Munnar. Girish Kasaravalli After the floods and landslides that ravaged Kerala this past Director year nature conservation and protection has become all the Jury Chairman, RINFF 2019 more necessary so that future generations may also enjoy its beauty and benefits. By encouraging our students to work up their creative juices and show their abilities on this platform we hope to help shape a positive approach on their mind and through them create a wider impact on society regarding environmental conservation. Munnar, the famous hill station where we are to hold our festival is currently a hot topic on environmental conservation and as Girish Kasaravalli is an Indian film director, in the Kannada cinema, and one of the such it’s background should provide for enough inspiration to pioneers of the Parallel Cinema. Known internationally for his works, Kasaravalli the imagination of these budding filmmakers. has garnered fourteen National Film Awards, including four Best Feature Films; Ghatashraddha (1977), Tabarana Kathe (1986), Thaayi Saheba (1997) and Dweepa My best wishes to the participants of the film festival and I hope (2002). In 2011, he was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award by it becomes a resounding success. Government of India. A gold medalist from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, The film he Dr. Elsamma Joseph Arackal made to fulfill his diploma, Avashesh, was awarded the Best Student Film and the Regional Deputy Director of Collegiate Education, Kottayam State Co-ordinator, Birds Club International National Film Award for Best Short Fiction Film for that year. He has received thirteen National Film Awards. International Jury Member International Jury Member Message Message Kahlil Gibran long ago wrote few lines on Nature and it is still I am very excited for the first ever Rain International Film matchless. Let me quote it. Festival. Congratulations to the mastermind, Mr. Jayaraj. I am honored to be present for its very first edition. It is really ‘Taking time to listen to the natural world reveals a new important as we need more films on nature. It is an outstanding dimension of being human. It is as if all of nature were already way to spread awareness of the ecological problems we are within us,reminding us of our connection to the one life we facing and bring about some change. I would like to wish the share’. organization best of luck and I will surely look forward to it I do not think still many people understand the true meaning every year. of those words. Otherwise world would have been a better place for all of us. Best wishes Today we are at a conflict with Nature. In the process daily we are destroying Nature with our Greed. Bijay Jena So it is time to initiate a Film Festival focusing Nature. Actress, Director Jury Mmber, RINFF 2019 I hope to see many films at Rain International Nature Film Festival which will force us to see and understand of being human. I wish Jayaraj & his team all the Best! Prasanna Vithanage Film Maker, Jury Member, RINFF 2019 Prasanna Vithanage is a Sri Lankan filmmaker. His films have won many awards, both Bijaya Jena is an Indian actor, film director and producer. In 1992 she made her directorial national and international, and have also been commercially successful. In his early theatre debut with the Oriya feature film Tara which won the Indian National Film Award (Best work, he translated and produced plays by international writers, and has adapted works of director). In 1997, she scripted, directed and produced her second filmAbhaas (Prologue). world literature to film. His 7th feature film,Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka (With You, Without You) Both the films participated in festivals abroad and received critical acclaim. Bijaya Jena had its world premier in the “World Greats” section at the 39th Montreal International Film was on the Governing Council of the Film & TV Institute of India from 1992-95 and on the Festival. Vithanage founded the ‘Prasanna Vithanage Academy of Acting’ in Sri Lanka, for National Feature Film Awards Jury in 1993. aspiring acting students. Birds Club International District Co-ordinators Birds Club International is a non commercial organisation that aims at promoting global interest in birds, conservation of nature and the environments through public campaigns and education.