“Fifth Asian Film Festival” will open its curtain on October 12, 2006 in Mumbai

Asian Cinema is completely alien. It is interesting to note that while the Asian Cinema has been winning accolades in the international festival circuit, none of the SAARC countries screen Asian cinema commercially. It is not even much known in film society network of South Asia.

Extending from Turkey to Japan, and divided culturally in the Middle East, West Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and the Far East, the Asian Cinema is as diverse and rich as its topography. Yet, the Asian countries share cultural similarities, and a common socio-economics scenario. They are plagued by similar problems of poverty, illiteracy, population, lowly status of women. Cinema could be a common bond, which could create awareness about each other amongst Asian countries.

The Asian Film Festival is one such beginning in the right direction. The Festival aims to establish interaction between Asian Film fraternities and create a dialogue with the West.

Highlights of the festival

· The Asian Film Culture Award will be given to Iranian director Majid Majidi known for his celebrated film 'Children of Heaven'.

· The award will be presented to him during the closing ceremony on October 19. His latest film 'Weeping Willow' will be the closing film of the festival.

· For the first time, Satyajit Ray Memorial award has been instituted to honour film personalities for promoting film as art.

· The first recipient of this award will be Prof Satish Bahadur, who taught film appreciation at the FTII, Pune.

· The Award Winner will present some of these award-winning Asian films that bagged the top honours at Global film festival.

· Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh will inaugurate the Film Festival on October 12, at its main venue Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi, Mumbai.

· For the first time, the concept of 'Red Carpet' for VIPs will be introduced.

· Main venue will be Ravidra Natya Mandir for all screening between October 13 -19. Programme will be available at theater.

from: Rajendra Joshi