Festival Note IFFB 2020

As we welcomed the new year, the city experienced a respite from the heat, fleeting, as the heat seems to be back, the world was shaken by the killing of Iranian General Suleimani - an imminent call to destruction, students were attacked by masked goons at JNU, Delhi and we have witnessed young people and women on the streets across India - a Civil Disobedience in the making. As we learn and try to understand the issues, we are wracked by anxieties of lack of public response in our city to the national outcry - we are still trying to understand our situation.

Organising a festival that had to be curtailed to four days for lack of resources, mobilising films was difficult due to civil disturbances across the country, frequent internet shutdowns (an aside - India led the world in Internet shutdowns in 2019) made communication difficult and scheduling painful. Be that as it may, we have managed to pick notable films that were discussed across the country for their sensitive portrayal of issues raging in their local and national contexts. Many of the films at the festival are made by debutants, from diverse parts of the sub continent.

We see Wanphrang Diengdoh's debut Khasi film Lorni - explores Khasi identity and history, he is keen to challenge the structure of film making and distribution in Meghalaya. Aani Maani - Fahim Khan's debut work set in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh depicts life of a family where particular choices of livelihood (a kabab vendor) are becoming dangerous with certain political dispensations taking power. Aise Hee- story of an elderly widow coming to terms with her space in Allahabad, depiction of life of elderly women in our non-metro spaces, their challenges, oppression flowing from social structures are sensitively explored by Kislay. Ghode ko Jalebi ..Anamika's debut film explores the subterranean world - the dreams of marginal people of Old Delhi - Anamika came to film making from a life spent in theatre and her skills are evident in the performances of the ensemble cast, the music, giving us a visceral viewing experience....and what a film... enjoy the experience.

Ronny Sen brings to screen playing with shadows and light, the story of addicts in Calcutta chasing an elusive permanent intoxication in Cat Sticks. Nicholas's film "Axone" is set in Delhi's Humayunpur suburb, where a group of friends' from North East cope with the day to day racism.

These new film makers are telling stories which are personal, well crafted and raise pertinent questions around the diversity and the challenges of oppression around food, gender, marginalities, partriarchal structures, unexamined traditional mores. One hopes the modes of film making and distribution is shaken up as these works needs to be seen widely and discussed as they evoke questions on fundamental issues.

Most of these works are Independent films made with love and grit and one hopes the audience engages with them. We hope that Film festivals open up discussions to imagining a space for questions, a space for the public to reimagine the art of Cinema and we hope FSB will continue to support young film makers from across the country - we will need the sustained support of our audience.

The festival is dedicated to the memory of Odiya film maker Manmohan Mohapatra. We are also paying homage to the auteur Mrinal Sen.

In a conversation with Goutam Ghosh, last September at the 2nd IDFFB, Goutam da hoped that the compassion of human beings is evoked in our society. A similar sentiment was evoked by Late Mrinal Sen in one of the interviews in 2001 where he hoped that compassion could be the only way to engage with the depredations of human lust of power and destruction. We hope that Cinema and the Arts will help us heal and spread compassion in our trying times.