Ronita Torcato

Osian's
Cinefan 2012,Indian Asian and Arab film festival held in association
with the government of Delhi will spotlight 200 films from around 50
countries. Starting from  27th July to the 5th of August, this year's
edition highlights the following:

Freedom of creative & Cultural Expression: This theme will
run through the overall programming of events at the festival (according
to a communique received from Osian's. )

Environmental
Cinema: Showcasing film making dedicated to the causes of environmental
and heritage preservation. Environment as a platform will be a precursor
of a Summit on Natural and Man-made Heritage, which by 2013 will
translate into a new film festival dedicated to this subject. 

World Animation:  Will showcase world of animation film. That
will focus on an exciting adventure in the discovery of a medium that
already promises to become one of the most exciting amongst the
cinematic arts.

Delhi: India's next cinema city: A three day summit involving
the Government of India The Government of Delhi, the Indian Film
industry and various state and non state cultural agencies will discuss
the way forward to develop Delhi as India's next Film City.

Much of the film programming will reflect the values of a new youth
culture both in terms of the cinema shown and the new related musical
programs which provide another exciting dimension and energy to Osian’s -
Cinefan. The focus will be on the spirit of the youth to rebel so as to
define a different future from the past,says a media alert.

Osian's 12th Cinefan Film Festival is also set to expand its wings
with the inclusion of acclaimed Bengali Filmmaker - Rituparno Ghosh,
whose much awaited contentious film  'Chitrangada' will have its first
India premier under the 'Freedom of expression' section of the festival.
'Chitrangada' is a contemporary reworking of Tagore’s famous dance
drama of the same name which depicts the love story of Arjuna and the
warrior-princess of Manipur, Chitrangada. Ghosh plays ‘Chitrangada’ to
Jisshu Sengupta’s ‘Arjuna in this modern allegorical tale about the
nature of gender and sexuality.The film is a radical exploration in
Indian film, about the freedom to choose one’s gender and sexual
orientation. Ghosh’s portrayal of the Third Sex cultural position comes
from his own insistence in exerting his right to make choices when it
comes to sex and gender.