Training and capacity building can help to produce quality manpower in the field of Film archiving, preservation and restoration: NFAI Director

Cataloguing Film Archivesis a very challenging task says ShriParkashMadgum, the Director National Films Archive of India (NFAI).

He was addressing a press conference along with ShriShivendraDungarpur, the founder director of Film Heritage Foundation and Director,Directorate of Film Festivals, Shri C SenthilRajanhere today to elaborate more onthe ongoing multimedia exhibition at 46th IFFI, 2015. This exhibition was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathoreyesterday.

Responding to a question regarding how to prioritise cataloguing the archives,ShriParkashMadgum said that the criteria can be any and many includingthe present condition of the film, work of a film maker, award winning film, popularity of the film among others. Theaim is to preserve every work thoughpreservation exercise is being taken up in phased manner, prioritising filmson various criteria, he added. Underlining the importance of ‘celluloid’ films, he recalled the remarks of the eminent film maker AdoorGopalakrishnan, that the images on celluloid films are visible against light without any gadget. Training and Capacity building programmes in the field of Preservation and Film Archiving in co-ordination with International Agencies is a very important aspect of the NFHM and can help to produce quality manpower in this field, NFAI Director explained.

ShriShivendraDungarpursaid the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM) is a prestigious project of the Government of India, for acquisition and preservation of filmic heritage of the country.The infrastructure of preservation is most important and needs to be created, he added. He also said that workshops conducted by NFAI provide an opportunity to learn preservation and restoration of films enhancingchances of one’s employabilityas film preservers.

The Festival Director, ShriC SenthilRajan said that the National Film Heritage Mission is a recent initiative of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This year, a multimedia exhibition has been put up by NFAI and DAVP, on the theme of preservation, conservation digitization and restoration of film and filmic material. This will be a source for good classical films, he added.

The Multi Media Exhibitionis an attempt to create awareness about the importance of Film Preservation and Film Restoration. India is one of few Countries, implementing, the film preservation and restoration, at such a massive level, in a mission mode, time bound manner.The exhibition encompasses posters and audio-visual content from the ‘Restored Classics’ of National Film Archive of India along with technical presentations explaining the processes of film restoration.

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‘New Horizons from North East’ section opens at IFFI, 2015with the screening of Assamese film ‘Xondhikyon’

The North East section of IFFI, 2015 ‘New Horizons from North East’was inaugurated by Director, Directorate of Film festival, Shri C. SenthilRajan and CEO, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) ShriAmeyaAbhyankar here today. The ‘New Horizons from North East’ opened with an Assamese film ‘Xondhikyon’ directed by the budding director M. Maniram.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri C SenthilRajan, the Festival Director said that North East has a special place in our country. This festival provides a platform for exposure of Indian directors to International delegates. We plan to take this festival to different parts of the country, he added. He also said that this section will showcase a special retrospective on the eminent film director AribamShyam Sharma. The Festival Director also said that this section is important for the young directors from the North East.

The performance by Laihui group from Manipur during the inaugural enthralled the audience present at the event.

The ‘New Horizons from North East’ will have two sections. The first section will be ‘A special retrospective on ace filmmaker AribamShyam Sharma’.AribamSyam Sharma isan eminent film director, actor, and music composer from Manipur. He has received15 National Film Awards, Padma Shri and Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award. His films, ImagiNingthem (My Son, My Precious) received the ‘Grand Prix’ at the Festival des Trios Continents in 1982; Ishanou(The Chosen One) was the Official Selection (Un Certain Regard) for the Cannes Film Festival, 1991; and the British Film Institute declared his filmSangai - the Dancing Deer of Manipur asthe Outstanding Film of the Year 1989. The films to be screened in the retrospective sectioninclude Orchids of Manipur, ImagiNingthem, Matamgi Manipur, YelhouJagoi,Ishanou(Cannes selection), OlangthageeWangmadasoo, Paari, Manipuri Pony, KoroKoshii - the Gate, The Deer on the Lake, The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh, Meitei Pung, Lai Haraoba and The Marams.

The second section will showcase the work of new generation filmmakers from the North-East including films by SangeDorjeeThongdok, Napolean RZ Thang, KiviniShohe, WanglenKhundongbam, Dominic MehamSangma, TiainlaJamir and Sanjib Das.

After the inaugural, a pressconference was addressed by directors AribamShyam Sharma, M. Maniram, Manju Bora and JadumaniDutta,at IFFI Media Centre at the Festival venue. The legendary filmmaker from Manipur,AribamShyam Sharma said that cost is a crucial factor in production of North east films and financial help is required in this regard for the sustainability of the North East cinema. Government can play and should play a big role in giving financial support to the directors from the north-east. Aribam recollected that some of his best works were financially supported by Doordarshan.

M. Maniramsaid that awards should be given to encourage the film makers. He also highlighted the limited availability of avenues and theatres for screening of films in the north-east and the inability of directors to even recover their costs. Emphasisingupon the promotion of regional films, recipient of National Film Award, Manju Borah said that that North East has many cultural, social and political avenues that are best suited for any creative person to make films on various themes.

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Directors of films Bajrangi Bhaijaan, ‘Priyamanasam’, and ‘Rajkahini’ in Indian Panorama at IFFI 2015 meet the Press

Director of the film Bajrangi Bhaijaan- Kabir Khan, Director of opening Sanskrit film ‘Priyamanasam’, Vinod Mankara and Srijit Mukherji who has scripted and Directed ‘Rajkahini’ met the media here today.The three films are part of the Indian Panorama at 46th IFFI.

Director Kabir Khan, of the Kabul Express said that he was originally a documentary film maker but felt that mainstream cinema is a more effective platform, so he decided to use it for telling his stories. “But I hope to go back to documentaries one day” he added. Responding to a question he said that he is very much touched by the political situation inand relationship between countries on India’s border. It is for this reason that the subject keeps cropping up in the backdrop of my films, the director added.Kabir Khan explained that the film BajrangiBhaijaan, though not based on a true story, has been triggered by similar stories like that of Geeta where people cross over the border inadvertently.

Kabir Khan has received many awards and has travelled across 60 countries while pursuing his documentary assignments. His work has met with critical acclaim and been screened at several international film festivals.

Interacting with media,SrijitMukherji said "I don't believe in genres.My favourite genre is Cinema."In response to another question he admitted that keeping in view the box office success Rajkahini, he plans to make it in other languages and locations also. I will also make a few changes in the film to give it a pan India character, he explained.

SrijitMukherji has been actively involved with the English professional theatre circuit in Delhi and Bangalore. He came into the limelight after directing his first commercial film, Autograph, which was a critical and commercial success.

Director of the opening Sanskrit film VinodMankara said ‘Priyamanasam’ celebrates the dance and music of 17th century and promotes Sanskrit as a language. In the film Kathakali and live musical instruments have been used in an elaborate way. "It took more than 6 years to research the Sanskrit movie Priyamanasam",he added.

VinodMankara is a journalist, writer, lyricist and filmmaker. He holds the world record for having made 650 documentaries. He has won multiple Kerala state government awards for his documentaries.

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Cinema’s Power Lies in Seamless Reach and Cross Culture Communication:Amos Gitai

Eminent Israeli film maker Amos Gitaihas opined that the power of cinema as a medium lies in its capacity to go beyond borders and to communicate across cultures.Interacting with the media here today, he said the films need to be both passionate and critical when need be. I am originally an architect and believe in ideas as ideas are important and strong, capable of moving planets.

Films need to have a social context and should not be just entertainment, Gitai added.Filmmakers like Satyajit Ray are called great because they care for their country and use art and films to shape public opinion, he explained.

Expressing disappointment, the eminent filmmaker said that there is too much recycling in the field of cinema. He urged the coming generation of filmmakers to feel free while expressing themselves to bring out their originality and creativity.

Amos Gitai was born on October 11, 1950 in Haifa. He graduated as an architect from the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa and acquired a PhD in architecture at Berkeley University in California. He fought in the Yom Kippur War in 1973, during which he was injured. Attracted by directing, he became professional filmmaker in 1980 with House. From that point he created many films, both fiction and documentary that brought him considerable international recognition.

46th IFFI is paying Retrospective HonourstoAmos Gitai.Opening withScreening of ‘Rabin- The last Day’, ten of his films are being screened under this section. Other films include Alia, Berlin-Jerusalem, Devarim, Esther, Golem, the Spirit of the Exile, Kadosh, Lullaby to my Father, Tsili, YomYom.