How many can say that they haven’t watched a single
movie? That’s right, no one, because films and we humans are linked to each
other. People make films about people, and people themselves watch it. And, no
matter what, films do play a huge role in influencing society or impacts
someone in some way. This also means that our choices and tastes in films
differ and hence, filmmakers can explore various topics and genres with the
assurance that they will have their audience. Apart from the commercial
releases, many films find their audiences through film festivals.
The
Asian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF) was first held in New Delhi in the year
2005. The festival has grown in strength and popularity over the years, with
increasing participation of filmmakers. The
2019 edition concluded in March at the India International Centre in Delhi.
This year, for the first time, a travelling edition of the festival will take
place in Goa, Bhopal, Kohima, Hyderabad and Srinagar.
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From the 50 films that were screened at the festival,
a selection of 18 films are being brought to Goa. This edition will showcase
films by women filmmakers from Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Taiwan, UAE,
Israel, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India.
“Women from far off small villages too have
contributed into making films about and on women; it is pleasing to see so many
different genres and types of stories from women’s life,” says CEO of ESG,
Amit Satija.
The
package includes feature length fiction and documentaries, short films,
animation films and a special section of audio documentaries is also curated
for this two-day festival. “Apart from the usual documentaries, the audio
documentaries are something unique that we will witness this time, it isn’t
something that one must miss, its new and may have a great impact,” said Sachin
Chatte, Executive Council member, ESG.
Film
sections are curated thematically, looking at topics like ‘Love, Marriage and
Relationships’, ‘Border, Homeland and Country’, ‘All Women Families’, ‘Women
working in the Media’. There is also a special package of short animation films
that will be shown at the festival.
Some
highlights include the feature length Bangladesh film ‘Under Construction’ by
the filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain about a theatre artist in Bangladesh who tries
to defy societal norms and live life on her own terms despite the price she has
to pay for it. ‘Displacement and Resilience’ an hour long IAWRT documentary by
Chandita Mukherjee about conflict, migration and exile featuring the lives of
women refugees from five locations around the world and two films by women
filmmakers from the North East of India. Other films to be showcased for both
the days are Finding Naseebi , Hebrew Kisses, Hope, A hard day in the empire,
Velvet Revolution, Roshan and Mani, Falaknaz, Chori, River Story, Did you
know?, Peace Carpet, Liu, Daisy, Soundphiles, Antouni, Speechless, Felicita,
etc.
The
screenings will be held at the Cinephile Film Club of the Entertainment Society
of Goa, Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, Panaji on Saturday, August 17, 2019 from 5 pm
to 8 pm and Sunday, August 18, from 11 am to 8 pm. Entry is open to all above
18 years on a first come first serve basis.
