Panaji: 26 NOV 2018 … Three directors of Feature films in Indian Panorama at the 49^th International Film Festival of India addressed a press conference in Panaji, Goa today November 26. 2018. Ram, Director of ‘Peranbu’, Lijo Jose Pellissery, Director of ‘Ee. Ma. Yau.’ and Pratima Joshi, Director of ‘Aamhi Doghi’ participated in the press conference.

Peranbu, the Tamil film directed by Ram got much accolades from a packed audience during its Indian premiere at IFFI yesterday. Elaborating on the genesis of his movie, Ram said that the story is about a spastic child and the parenting issues associated with her. “The screening of Perambu at IFFI was a very thrilling experience. I find that the Indian audience is very mature and celebrates film as an art. Their level of understanding of films and film art is far ahead compared to European or Chinese audience”, he said.

The director also recollected an incident from his personal life when he met with the parent of a differently abled child. A question raised by that parent “Nature has created everyone differently but treats everyone equally; how cruel is it?”- formed the baseline of this touching emotional movie, he further added. Replying to a question on the selection of complicated themes, Ram said that he likes to create movies that challenge him.

Lijo Jose Pellissery said that cinema should not be categorised as regional and national or commercial and parallel. It should be categorised just as good cinema and bad cinema; that will be easier for film makers and audience, he added. On the role of music in his film ‘Ee. Ma. Yau.’, Lijo said that though music score is used only in the last 30 to 40 seconds of the film, the ambient sound is treated more or less like music. “Whatever sound is there in cinema is all atmospheric and part of the ambience”, he said. Replying to a question, he described that long-shot sequences used in cinema can ensure that the emotions and entire array of events are not missed out in the scene.

An actor and costume designer turned director, Ms. Pratima Joshi said that she does not believe in the oft-repeated statement that “women themselves are the enemies of women”. ‘Aamhi Doghi’ touches upon the bonding between a young woman and her ‘not so old’ step mom. She added that though the film is based on a story written in 1973, the subject runs well ahead of the times. Replying to a question on choosing the right actors for character realization, she said that some faces appeared in her mind right at the time she started reading the story.

Backgrounder

Peranbu

‘Peranbu’ is a Tamil language film written & directed by Mr. Ram starring the famous actor Mammootty. ‘Peranbu’depicts an intense emotional drama focusing on the relationship between father and daughter. The film had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Asian premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival. Ram’s second film ‘Thanga Meengal’ bagged three awards in categories of Best Feature Film in Tamil, Best Child Artist, Best Lyrics category at the 61st National Film Awards. ‘Peranbu’ is his fourth film.

Ee. Ma. Yau.

Ee. Ma. Yau. is a stunning satire on death and how it affects human lives. Set in Chellanam, a coastal village in Kerala, the film kicks off with the death of an old man named Vavachan Mestri. Vavachan, a master mason belonging to the Latin Catholic community in Kerala, shares memories of his father’s burial with his son Eesy. He expresses the desire for a grand funeral for himself which Eesy promises. After Vavachan’s sudden death, Eesy tries to arrange a good funeral for him but her effort is met with unpredictable obstacles and reactions from different quarters. Subsequent events bring the fore conflict within the family and the deep ethical crisis simmering in the community. The film’s title is an abbreviation of “Eesho Mariyam Yauseppe”, which in some Christian communities, is a prayer whispered in the ears of the deceased. Lijo Jose Pellissery won the Best Director Award at the 48th Kerala State Film Awards for Ee.Ma.Yau.

Aamhi Doghi

Aamhi Doghi by debut director Pratima Joshi works because of its well-established characters. The film, based on Gauri Deshpande’s story Paus Ala Motha, is not just a story of two women. Pratima Joshi succeeds in creating a film that offers a fresh outlook at relations and how they shape a person. It also tells you that someone’s personality should not be the benchmark for being friends with the person. Raised in a household without the presence of her mother and a father who is away most of the times, Savitri Sardesai learns to be practical in her approach towards life. But equations change when her father remarries and brings home Savi’s stepmom Amala.

Panaji ::: November 26, 2018 …The Parishioners of Panaji are gearing up the preparations for the Novena and Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception under the supervision of the Parish Priest and Parish Pastoral Council. The Feast is annually held on December 8.

The Hoisting and Blessing of the Flag (Fama) will take place on November 28, 2018 at 5.45 p.m. followed by Mass. The Nine day preparations will begin on November 29, 2018 with Rosary at 5.45 p.m. followed by Mass, Sermon and Salve at 6 p.m.

The main theme of the Novena will be “Life of Mary is the true model of the life of the Church”. The Carmelite Fathers will preach the Morning Mass at 8.00 a.m. in English and the evening Mass in Konkani at  6.00 p.m.  On the Feast day i.e. on December 8, the Masses will be held at  5.30 a.m. (inside the Church), 6.30 a.m., 7.30 a.m., and 8.30 a.m. (outside the Church); at 10.00 a.m (Feast Mass), 12.30 p.m. (inside the Church) and last mass at 5.30 p.m (outside Church).

During Novena, post the liturgical service, there will be several stalls, games and music for the people.

This was announced today, by the Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting (I/C), Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore,on Twitter.

Salim Khan was born on November 24, 1935 in Indore. As a master screenwriter, he is known for having penned the masterful screenplays of several super-hit films such asDeewar,Zanjeerand many others, and in particularSholay,one of the greatest hits of Indian cinema.He has registered a memorable contribution as an actor and producer as well.

Panaji: 25 NOV 2018 … ICFT is involved in major film festivals all over the world but Goa is the master-piece of all Film Festivals, said Mr. Georges Dupont, DG, International Council for Film Television and Audiovisual Communication (ICFT) and jury member of the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal at IFFI. ICFT is trying hard to get into festivals like Cannes in order to get space for young film-makers  he added.  Mr. Dupont  was addressing the media along with Mr. Eric Falt, Director of UNESCO and Regional Representative for India & neighbouring countries on the sidelines of the 49^thInternational Film Festival of India in Goa today.

Elaborating on the process of selection, Mr Dupont said that criteria for selecting films to the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal Section are difficult  because they have to meet UNESCO’s  themes of peace,  unity and  international co-operation,  and movies come from different origins and cultures. “Film critics of international repute are involved in the selection process. Movies are shortlisted in India and taken to Paris for jury to watch. Then they are distributed to all the members via internet. The members do their homework as per their convenience and discuss their notes to arrive at a decision. The criteria for selection of movies for  the Medal this year  have been broadened. This year Silver Prize will be given as we are celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi”, he said.

Discussing the future prospects of  films and film-making, Mr Dupont said ICFT is trying to get youth involved in these festivals as they are the future of cinema. UNESCO is also educating youth about media in the wake of issues like fake news.

Mr. Eric Falt,  Director, UNESCO said UNESCO supports culture in all its forms and there is a long-standing love affair between cinema and the international  organisation. “UNESCO is involved in many cultural programmes in India. The ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal eschews the value of Peace, Unity and International Co-operation. We are making efforts to prepare for the 50^th anniversary of the festival next year and to bring ICFT and UNESCO closer”, he said.

Replying to a question, Mr. Eric Falt said that India has the most vibrant film industry than anywhere in the world. It makes UNESCO happy and proud to be associated with IFFI. Underlining the importance of dialogue in promoting peace, unity and international co-operation, Mr Falt said UNESCO is  promoting   discourse between international organisations and the  film industry to address various social and cultural issues

Backgrounder

IFFI collaborates with the International Council for Film, Television and  Audiovisual Communication (ICFT) Paris, to present a special ICFT Prize consisting of the UNESCO Gandhi Medal.  ICFT established in 1956, is an official partner of UNESCO, and is an NGO aiming to stimulate the production and distribution of high quality audio-visual work, especially of young artists and media avocations at large.

The UNESCO issued commemorative medal in 1994, marking the 125^th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. Since then the ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Award is being given to a film that best reflects Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of peace, tolerance and non-violence. This year 12 films   are vying  for the Award which will be announced at the closing ceremony of the Festival on 28^th November. Out of the 12 films, two are Indian and the rest are foreign.

The Indian films competing for the prestigious ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal are ‘Walking With the Wind’ and ‘Baaram’.The foreign films in the fray are :  Border, Capernaum, Dovlatov, Laugh or Die, Los Silencious, Rain of Homs, The Interpreter, The Mercy of the Jungle, The Rib and The Silent Revolution.

Georges Dupont is a Communication Expert & Member of the National Commission for UNESCO, Luxembourg & presently serving as DG ICFT.

Eric Falt is a French senior official at the United Nations. At present, he is serving as UNESCO Director and Representative for a region covering Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Previously, from 2010 to 2018, he was Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Public Information at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) based in Paris, with the rank of Assistant Secretary-General (ASG).

Panaji :: 25 NOV 2018 … The 6^th day of the 49^th International Film  Festival in Goa saw varied subjects like Varanasi handicrafts, Varanasi funeral ghats, and Naga bravery get interwoven with each other at a ‘Meet the Directors’ event at the Media Centre this morning. Three non-feature films ‘Bunkar: The Last of the Varanasi Weavers’, ‘Nani Teri Morni’ and ‘Burning’ were the topics of discussion.

In India, every family thinks it as a matter of great pride to have at least one Banarasi silk in their homes. Yet, those persons who weave these world famous Banarasi silks continue to toil in poverty. Satyaprakash Upadhyay, Director of ‘Bunkar: The Last of the Varanasi Weavers’ said that his film seeks answers to the question as to why the Banarasi sari weavers are strugglingdespite the popularity of  the valuable product of their hands.  “While doing research on the topic, it was revealed to us that most of the people are buying power-loom woven saris mistaking them  as hand-woven. .The common man don’t have any idea about the difference between hand-loom woven and power-loom products”, he said.  A lot of topics including the history of Banarasi silk, time taken to make one handloom product, GI marks, etc  are covered in the  film. Unless common man get sufficiently informed, he can’t contribute to the cause of handloom weavers, he further added.

Producer of the film, Ms. Sapna Sharma, said if we don’t support handloom weavers by buying genuine Banarasi silk, the art will become extinct one day.

Akashaditya Lama, Director of ‘Nani Teri Morni’ described his journey to Nagaland to explore the story of a seven year old child who swam across a river  to save a drowning grandmother. “The stories from our ancestors form the bedrock of our, thoughts, and they in turn create the persons we become. The main character in this film Mhonbeni Ezung who became the youngest recipient of National Bravery award for children in 2015,  was also inspired by such a story told by her grandmother  which prompted her act of bravery”, he said. He added that his perception about Nagaland changed a lot while shooting the film there.

Journalist turned film maker Sanoj V. S., Director of ‘Burning’ said it is his obsession towards the holy city of Varanasi that prompted him to create such a film. The story shown from the perspective of two mothers depicts how women are subjected to social forces like patriarchy, religion and caste, he said.

Backgrounder

1. BUNKAR: THE LAST OF THE VARANISI WEAVERS

The film by Satyaprakash Upadhyay presents the history of Bunkar -the artisan handloom weavers of Varanasi in  India. Through interviews with craftsmen, the film conveys the details of the ancient craft and also how mechanization has brought hard times to the craftmen..

Shri Updadhay is Founder & Director of ‘Narrative Pictures’ which includes team of expert storytellers from the media, TV and film industry.

2. NANI TERI MORNI

The film directed by Akashaditya Lama is based on Mhonbeni Ezung who is the youngest recipient of National Bravery award for children in 2015. She saved her grandmother from drowning overcoming her fear. The tale is set in a far flung eastern corner of India, in the village of Tsungiki in the Wokha district of the State of Nagaland. Nani Teri Morni is said to be the first film to be entirely shot in the picturesque mountains of Nagaland by a crew entirely from Mumbai. He shot in Nagaland in order to make the film as real as possible.Akshaditya’s forefathers are originally from Arunachal Pradesh. The film is produced by Children’s Film Society of India.

3. BURNING

A short film ‘BURNING’ directed by Sanoj V.S. is about a conversation between two young mothers brought together by strange and cruel social realities at a funeral ghat in Varanasi.Mr. Sanoj, a native of Kerala has been working in the UP plains since 2014. He visited Varanasi at least eight times before embarking on the movie.  

Panaji : 24th Nov 2018 ::: Getting audience and funds are the two challenges before the documentary film makers and efforts are being made to overcome these problems said President, IDPA-Indian Documentary Producers Association, Ms. Usha Deshpande while talking to media at Media centre today. General Secretary, IDPA, Sanskar Desai was  also present. 

IDPA is endeavouring to provide exposure to documentary film-makers by organising film screenings, approaching film clubs for screening, negotiating with television channels for slots and participating in film festivals across the country.  It also organises competitions, workshops, seminars, masterclasses etc said Ms Deshpande.

Talking about Open   Forum which is going to be organised from 25-27  November for an hour starting at 1:30 during IFFI 2018, Deshpande said the themes will be:

1. Director’s take on biopics –  how much fact and how much fiction is there  in it?
2. Is technique over-riding content in today’s film-making and its impact.
3. Cellphones are making each one of us into film-makers. Is this medium capable of graduating into way of making proper films?

IDPA is a non-profit organisation established in 1956 and is India ’s single largest association of producers of documentaries, animation films, advertisement films and TV programmes. It is also facilitating the documentary makers by providing them with regular updates, standardised rate cards and by settling disputes. IDPA, as a Trust,  is part of the movement trying to take further legacy of documentary film makers. It has history of distinguished Presidents like Aruna Raje, Mike Pandey and Vijaya Mulay, informed Sanskar Desai.

It has organised film festivals and instituted awards to deserving talent . IDPA has been associated with Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) since its inception in 1988.  Currently, the membership of IDPA is open to any Indian filmmaker who makes documentaries, short commercials, corporate films and animation films. said Shri Desai.

Shri Desai told that  IDPA has a slot on DD National  on Saturdays at 10 am.  for documentaries. Screenings are also arranged in Mumbai and at other places to promote documentary movement.” IDPA has proposed and is persuading  for a dedicated channel  for documentaries. It also curates packages as per the needs of the various festivals.

Backgrounder

Usha Deshpande, an alumni of screenplay writing course of FTII,  is an independent producer, director and writer. Her film ‘Khayal’ on Hindustani classical music is quite popular.

Sanskar Desai, a Mumbai based filmmaker, scriptwriter, theatre person, singer and a poet, has been actively   associated with Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) & International Film Festival of India (IFFI) since many years. He is General Secretary of IDPA and his film ‘Stepwells of Gujarat’ was widely received.

Panaji  : 24th Nov 2018 ::: Aamir Khan is called ‘Uncle Mir’ in China: Marco Mueller (Film Critic & Historian, Artistic Director, PYIFF, Pingyao) … Violence is an inescapable part of our culture: Ivan Ayr (Filmmaker) … If your film isn’t pirated then you have a problem: Paolo Bertolin (Programmer, Venice International Film Festival) …. The audience for indie films is thin but spread wide across the world: Prakash Bare (Actor & Producer) … The Filmmakers Pitch sees filmmakers exciting pitches on films from across South Asia on Day 3 of the Film Bazaar

Day 3 of the Film Bazaar saw activity around the business of cinema peak with multiple parallel meetings throughout the day between those seeking to pitch their films to interested buyers, distributors, or festival programmers. An exciting slate of panel discussions ignited as well as sated the curiosity of the audience on relevant issues around cinema and its future.

 The most interesting session of the day saw 20 filmmakers pitch their films to the audience under the newly launched initiative at the Film Bazaar called Filmmakers Pitch. The pitch which was open to all the films in the Viewing Room was added to the Bazaar this year based on the suggestion of filmmakers at the previous editions. Each filmmaker got five minutes on stage to present their films. Most of them were looking for finishing funds and help with distribution and marketing of their almost-ready-for-release films.

 The Knowledge Series continued with its amazing slate of sessions of value to the filmmaking community. The most interesting of these was the one on ‘Films without Borders – Bridging cultures’ where Marco Mueller (Film Critic & Historian, Artistic Director, PYIFF, Pingyao) explained in detail the Chinese market the reason for the recent success of Indian films in that market.

 “PK was the turning point for Indian films in China when they went from being niche to being mass. The success of PK, Three Idiots and Dangal, has really been because of the many years of marketing that was done by the distributors of these films in China. The marketing followed practices that resonate with Chinese audiences and included reaching out to the Chinese superstars who endorsed these films leading to their fan clubs spreading the message and helping these films get an opening push. However eventually it was because the films reflected the shared values between India and China that they did so well. Now Aamir Khan is lovingly called Uncle Mir in China”, said Mr. Mueller. The panel then helped the filmmakers understand what it takes for a film to travel internationally.

 Mr. Mueller was on another interesting panel that had some old India hands on it who discussed the state of South Asian cinema and its future. Alongside Mr. Mueller, this panel included Derek Malcolm (Film Critic), Paolo Bertolin (Programmer, Venice Film Festival), Dominique Welinski (Producer) and was moderated by Orly Ravid (Founder, The Film Collaborative).

 While the panel was divided over the future of South Asian cinema, they were united in their opinion on how films from the region can succeed globally. “It cannot just be one man’s fight, you can’t do it alone. You need allies to push your cinema. I am very happy that Film Bazaar has a created a space for us to come here and interact with filmmakers”, said Mr. Mueller. This was echoed by Ms. Welinski who said, ”People should really talk to each other, come together and organize themselves to be able to do this better.”

 On the topic of co-productions, the panel felt that that the filmmakers should be realistic about their needs and pursue co-productions accordingly. “It’s not easy” was a common refrain. Another common query from the filmmakers in the audience was the challenge of cracking the festival circuit. Paolo Bertolin threw light on how to approach it by saying that, “the main target should be to make a good film that is true to the original vision of the filmmaker. Then you should send your film to as many festivals as possible.”

 Discussion soon veered to the issue of piracy and how the Chinese companies were using it to decide which film to release in China. Mr. Bertolin ended the session by repeating what he said he told filmmakers very often.

 Two interesting sessions involving filmmakers were also part of the schedule today. The first was a session on violence in cinema with filmmakers Devashish Makhija (Ajji, Bhonsle) and Ivan Ayr (Soni) engaged in a conversation with Somen Mishra (Head, Creative Development, Dharma Productions).

 When probed how he decides whether or not to show violence on screen, Mr. Makhija said “It’s important for me to make the audience complicit in the violence on screen but I am careful not to make it exploitative or glamorous.”

 Mr. Ayr called for action rather than dejection when confronted with violence all around us. He said, “Let’s not be frustrated, let’s do something about changing the system which we are all a part of.”

 A panel on building resources for indie and experimental cinema spoke about the need to create an alternative model for producing and distributing artistic cinema. All the four panelists had a shared history, each having worked together on films like Oraalppokkam and Ozhivudivasathe Kali in various capacities.

 Prakash Bare (Actor & Producer) spoke about the challenge of getting the audience to watch the films. “Once they’ve watched the film, they are wowed. They say they didn’t know such films exist.”

 The last session in the Knowledge series saw the duo from Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff Gomez (Founder & CEO) and Steele Filipek (Executive Editor) take the audience through the relatively new field of transmedia which is all about leveraging the world of possibilities inherent in a film to be taken on to other platforms, thus helping build interest, franchisees and eventually revenue models. The duo spoke about their experience with the immensely popular Pirates of the Carribean franchisee and how they helped extend take the world and the characters on to platforms like books, video games and theme parks.

 The two of them, with the moderator Mr. Rohan Sippy (Filmmaker & Producer) engaged in a conversation with filmmaker Gitanjali Rao on how her film Bombay Rose (animation) could go transmedia and leverage other platforms.

 The company has also consulted with Bahubali where they were involved from the very early stages. Speaking over video from the US, Mr. Gomez said that, “It was thrilling to see the war sequence from Bahubali go viral across the world. That was due to the willingness of the creators of the film to build a transmedia model.”

 As on the previous three days, the Producers Workshop continued to enlighten the young producers on the various aspects of production. A roundtable session in the morning had them talk to experienced professionals representing every facet of filmmaking while later in the day Orly Ravid (Founder, The Film Collaborative) shared her views on how to maximize the festival circuit. She told the eager producers that “there’s a lot of serious film making in India. It’s way better than what I have seen in the USA. The films here are very cinephile-oriented. To maximize a film’s potential, you need to have its world premiere at a festival of the highest level that you could manage. You must also be aware of which festival your film is more suited to.”  

Panaji: November 24, 2018 Directorate of Art and Culture, Goa in collaboration with Ministry of Art, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bihar and Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir (RGKM), Ponda held ‘Bihar Mahotsav’, a three-day cultural event at RGKM, Ponda.

Governor Dr. Smt. Mridula Sinha inaugurated the event yesterday in the presence of Minister for Art and Culture, Shri. Govind Gaude, Minister for Art, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bihar Shri. Krishna Kumar Rishi, Dy. Secretary of Art, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bihar Shri. Taranand Biyogi and Shri. Ajit Kerkar, Vice president of RGKM, Ponda.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that the state of Goa and Bihar have their own historical and cultural backgrounds yet they are one. “Geographically, Bihar and Goa are two separate states. But, I am impressed with the Goan culture as I found it to be very much similar to Bihar. We all value our system, our tradition and treasure our folklore as it is our identity,” the Governor stated.

Shri. Gaude said that ‘Bihar Mahotsav’ is an exchange of art, culture, and entertainment between the two states. “Goa is a very famous tourist place. Along with temples, churches, and beaches, Goa has a legacy of its own theatre form and art. Today, Goa is associated with 18 states by the means of Art and Culture and the department will work hard to provide it an international platform,” Shri. Gaude said.

 Minister for Art, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bihar Shri. Krishna Kumar Rishi appreciated the Goa’s hospitality and warm nature of Goans. He also wished to host a similar program in Bihar wherein Goan Art, Culture and Food will be showcased to the people o Bihar.

Earlier, the program began with lighting the traditional lamp. Shri. Ajit Kerkar gave the welcome address. Dignitaries from both the states were later felicitated. Shri. Pradip Naik and Smt. Tanvi Sinha compered the function. The function concluded with a cultural program performed by artists from both the states. The three-day event will see a display of Bihar’s art and cultural programs.

Panaji: November 24, 2018 … Minister for Health Shri Vishwajit Rane launched a dedicated Toll Free Health Helpline – 104 at GVK office, Goa Medical College and Hospital Complex, Bambolim today. Health Helpline 104 has been launched by Directorate of Health Services in association with GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute. By dialing 104, anyone in State can place their grievance and get free medical information for the health related schemes and facilities provided by the Government of Goa.

Additional Secretary, Health, Shri Sunil Masurkar, Director, Directorate of Health Services, Dr Sanjiv Dalvi, Dean, Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, Dr Pradip Naik, Medical Superintendent, Dr Shivanand Bandekar, HOD, GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute, Smt Purti Patkar and HOD’s from Goa Medical College were present on the occasion.

Speaking, on the occasion Shri Rane said, this service will provide grievance platform to the people. Helpline will also help Government to resolve functional issues. Government will use this mechanism to improve its functional in Health Sector Shri Rane said.

104 is a information and grievance Health Helpline which will cater to all callers from the State of Goa seeking information about Hospitals in the State, Blood Banks, Pharmacies and Government Schemes.

This 24×7 call centre will manage Health Related Grievances such as patient Healthcare, Infrastructure related or Medical Equipments at various District Hospitals, PHC, CHC etc. and a feedback to the caller in response to the grievance registered will be given.