Kerala   

Exclusive fete for video films

Responding to tremendous impact of digital technology on the film world, the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy is planning to organise an international video film festival here in April, on the lines of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

The week-long festival will have a competition section at the national level and packages from all over the world, Academy Chairman and IFFK Director K.R. Mohanan told TheHindu here on Wednesday.

He said the festival would showcase documentaries and short fiction films made in video and digital formats. “We are confident that the festival will evolve into an important platform for video filmmakers. Some of them are known to make wonderful films on the video format, but do not get adequate exposure for want of avenues to show them to the appropriate audience. The festival is expected to fill that gap.”

Mr. Mohanan said that last year itself, there were lots of requests from video filmmakers to get included in the IFFK. “But we could not give them due importance, as the festival was mainly meant for 35 mm format. So, we thought of a separate festival for video films,” he said.

The festival will showcase the works of independent filmmakers irrespective of their ideological predispositions. The films need not have censor certificates. “But a panel appointed by the Academy will select the films submitted for the festival,” he added. The festival will be held in Kairali and Sree.

Several filmmakers attending the IFFK hailed the move. “It is a great idea. Video films will not get the deserving attention if they are included in such film festivals, where the audience come to watch mainly 35mm feature films. Video films will get a discerning audience if a festival is held exclusively for them. It will be a great honour for the video filmmakers to attend a separate festival for their works,” said Dimitris Apostolou, a video filmmaker from Greece.

Anand Subramanian, a film maker from Bangalore, said that such a festival will encourage more people to explore the possibilities of this emerging technology. “Idea has greater power than technology. If you have a good idea it will make a good film in whatever format you make. The digital technology will enable many to come out of the major constraints in transforming a bright idea into a film,” Mr. Subramanian said.

T. Ramavarman

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Small hydel projects
CPI(M) Malappuram district committee has three new faces
CInema
At their creative best
On freedom struggle
Today at Sabarimala
UDF to stage dharna against violence
Getting rid of tax concerns
K. Ummer to head CPI(M) in Malappuram
CPI(M) activists attack journalists
Aluva Amateurs triumphs
Next year, watch IFFK in multiplex
Exclusive fete for video films
Balkan films generate debate
Increasing number of visitors
Hazardous job
Honoured
Ringing in the season

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu