South Asian Film Festival
saff-2012
October 25-28, 2012
Goa
South Asia Foundation hosts the 7th annual South Asian Film Festival-saff-2012 at Goa with the theme ...dissolving boundaries. saff is also celebrating the remarkable journey of "100 glorious years of Indian Cinema". This is the first ever effort to celebrate 100 years of Indian Cinema that is being celebrated at the South Asian Regional level in the presence of prominent film-makers of all the South Asian Countries. saff is all set to bring some of the finest cinema from all the South Asian Countries. Beginning on October 25, 2012, the four day long festival is one of rare festival where all the South Asian Countries film-makers join in celebrating the spirit of South Asian Cinema to promote and propagate peace and harmony in the South Asian Region with a spirit of oneness. saff is also an initiative of the Foundation to bring people to people contact through the medium of cinema where it tries to reach it to the grass-roots level also. It is also one of the most popular non-governmental initiative, where people to people vibrant contacts are effectively made through the medium of cinema.
South Asia Foundation has received support from the ICCR and Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, to make this event a grand success.
Today,at the inaugural ceremony, Kathak recital by noted Kathak Danseuse Ms. Sharmistha Mukherjee and group and an ensemble on Bhutanese Culture being presented by Karma Deki, Actor-Director from Bhutan and to add the local flavour to the festive season, Goa's very own Sigmund De Souza would also present a cultural programme at the Kala Academy Goa's Open air Amphitheater in the evening at 6.00 pm on today i.e. October 25, 2012.
Some of the highlights:
- Script writing workshop by Shri Sanjay Chauhan was conducted on October 26, 2012 which was attended well.
- “All I want is Everything” directed by Ms. Shital Morjaria was screened on the first day of the festival and had a wonderful response as it is being screened again today on special demand. The Producer of the film, Ms. Jhansi Laxmi who is a popular TV anchor, Telegu theatre & film actor who was present on the occasion was delighted with the kind of response they got from the audience. The film incidentally received wide spread reviews in Goan Media, as prelude to media coverage for the South Asian Film Festival much before it kicked off.
- Movies from Maldives and Nepal also had a great response. Both the country’s Directors could be seen excited by getting an opportunity to mingle with the audience and interacting with them.
- Bangladeshi movie “Uttorer Sur” directed by Shahneoyaj Cacoly had a very heart touching plot and natural reaction from the audience was visible. It not only brought people to tears, but also, had an emotional response from the audience. The Film witnessed a large number of Bengali communities from Goa in full strength including people from all walks of life turned up and the audience got a rare opportunity to interact with the promising young Director from Bangladesh.
- The Konkani film Mariola, directed by Joe Rose received an over-whelming response to a packed capacity at the ESG Auditorium. While introducing the film, Mr. Joe along with his lead actor Mr. Kevin, expressed their gratitude and appreciated the effort of South Asia Foundation to invite them for screening the first ever HD Konkani film and first ever HD film made in Goa. In an emotional call, the Secretary General of South Asia Foundation congratulated the director and actor in supporting the initiative of the foundation and joining the spirit of South Asia Foundation. He further informed the audience and the director that the foundation will try its level best to take the film to other South Asia Countries for presenting the film to a larger audience beyond India.
- The South Asian Film Festival surprisingly witnessed a huge crowd for the Bhutanese film “Seday” which normally does not get much audience because of language barrier.
- The film “Narasajjana Nursery” also received a good response from the audience. The director and actor were seen promoting their film and interacting with the audience.
The South Asia Foundation would also like to take this opportunity to thank all its supporters, sponsors and associates for making this Festival a success.
No comments:
Post a Comment