Editor

Mumbai International film Festival for documentary, Animation and Short film closed here on February 9th, with grand prize distribution ceremony. About 2000 delegates from all over the world witnessed the festival and enjoyed screening of 186 films from 35 nations.

In the international competition best Documentary film/video upto 60 minutes and above 60 minutes went respectively to The black Rod: On the frontlines of Ache’s war, an Australian film on savage war of independence and Continuous Journey, a Canadian film depicting forgotten chapter of history in Indo-Canadian context. The Elephant Boy upto 75 minutes) was awarded the best fiction film. The best films bagged Golden Conches and Rs. 2.5 lakh cash prizes each. Both the jury award and the critic’s awards also went to AFSPA 1958 and by Haobam Paban Kumar.

In the national section also The Riding Solo to the top of the world was adjudged the best documentary and won a Golden Conch. Best fiction film (upto 75 minutes) went to Nothing happens on the turn. The Printed Raibow won the best animation award with Golden Conch, while the jury award was shared by Hoon-I and Shit….

The black Rod: On the frontlines of Ache’s war.

The film tells a harrowing story of Aceh’s struggle for independence from Indonesia. It is a outcome of four year extensive work by the director who is journalist turned Film maker. William Nessen lived for many months on the frontlines with GAM independence fighters. He was himself hunted… almost killed by Indonesian Army and eventually sent to jail.

This is his first film.

Continuous Journey,

It is all about a ship “Komangata Maru” carrying 376 immigrants from british India in 1914 was turned away by Canada. The treatment of the passengers on the ship exposed the myth of equality of all subjects of the British empire and sparked a little known chapter in the Indian freedom struggle. Its is a complling investigation into the past and present ramifications of this incident.

The director Mr. Ali Kazimi, a Delhi gowned personality, now setteled in Canada after having his studies at York University, has made several documentaries whichj are screened in various festivals all around the world.

The Elephant Boy

Its is a true story of a boy who lived it. Rajesh a crippled begger tries to escape the city with the girl he loves. When things go wrong a dream inspires him on an arduous journey to pray for better life.


The film has been made by Mohandas Rene, who studeied film & Photography at University of Westminister. In 2002 his short film Wish won the Scottish Bata. He also has a feature film Southside, in development with BBC.

The Riding Solo to the top of the world
It’s a unique experience of a lonesome traveler on his motorbike. As a one man film unit, he intracts with capturing moments of beauty pain, landscape and spiritual triumphs.

A Bombay based director has long experience with Bollywood producer director Ram Gopal Varma and its his debut venture.


AFSPA 1958

The film is a diary of event which took place in Manipur, a State in India. Th. Manorama Devi, a 32 years old lady was picked by jawans of 17th Assam Rifles issueing an arrest memo. Her dead body was found near a hillock under suspiciaous conditions. People largely believe that she was raped and later shot. From there onwards people throughout the state started holding protest and agitations agaist excesses of security forces and Armed Force Special Power Act 1958. Pebam Chittaranjan dies setting self on fire protesting against the Act. The film received point of attraction in the festival.

Haoban Paban Kumar, the director of the film is a student of PG Diploma in direction at Satyajeet Ray film & Television Institute Kolkata. He has assisted for several programmes for educational television.


Nothing happens on the turn.

Its is about a moment that sneaks in from the backdoor to provide us joy in monotonous life. Hitesh Kewalya, the director was a NID student.


The Printed Rainbow

Its is about an Old Lady and her cat share their life in big city.

Ms. Gitanjali is a student of applied arts, and trained under the father of Indian Animation Mr. Ram Mohan at his Ram Mohan Biographics . She is a creator of Many animated commercials.

Hoon-I

In the course of the film, women begin to question various rules laid down for them by a patriarchal society, which eventually leads them to question the notion of Marrage, and their identity.

This diploma-film is a creation of Amit Babulal shah, who is studying at NID Ahemedabad.


Shit….

It’s about a dalit (Untouchable) woman from Madurai in India. She is involved in manual scavenging activities with Municipal Corporation. The film won many awards in other festivals.

The director Amudhan is involved in group of activist for making documentaries and their screenings in Madurai.