14th Asian Women’s Film Festival
The Festival provides women of Asian origin with a platform to display their creativity in different genres. 72 films from 19 countries were screened.
Debasrita Chakraborty
Besides the annual film screenings held at the India International Centre, New Delhi. seminars, discussions, and workshops are also a big part of the festival. More importantly, this platform makes space for the ‘feminist perspective’ in conversations and discussions around the different films screened and other social issues. Today, this festival has become an important event in the cultural calendar, it is socially relevant and unique as it provides a platform that transcends boundaries.
A four day long camera and sound workshop was conducted by Fowzia Fathima, Shalini Agarwal from March 4, with an orientation on aesthetics of handling a camera and techniques of sound design.
This year ‘Filmy Adda’ sessions were introduced at the festival. The first fillmy Adda was with Nupur Basu on ‘Pitching for Documentaries – Getting that win-win combination’ followed by a session with Nina Sabnani on ‘Animated Documentaries’ on the second day of the festival and the last Adda session was with Paromita Vohra on ‘Use of New Media for making a feminist art intervention to give sex a good name’.
Two engaging seminars were also organised – ‘Weaving Peace’ – A Women’s Perspective seminar on contemporary issues and challenges. Meenakshi Gopinath was in conversation with Lubna Sayed Quadir, Rosemary Dzuvichu, Sumona Dasgupta. The second seminar was titled ‘Voice Studio’ – A dialogue among youth to explore ways toward a democratic discourse’. Young leaders across India took part in this session and shared their stories. Women’s rights activist and documentary filmmaker Vani Subramaniam was in conversation with Prajakta Shete, Shirisha Vepoor, Lubna Irfan, Sabika Abbas Naqvi ,Ushasi Pal, Satarupa Chakraborty, Suresh Gothra (Sarpanch- head of a Panchayat) and young ladies from Rewari (Haryana,India) – Sujata, Ekta, Nikita, Pakhi, Tannu, Usha Chauhan.
Eminent scholar of Asian Cinema Aruna Vasudev, leading scholar of classical Indian dance, Indian art and architecture Dr. Kapila Vyatsayan and Indian developmental feminist activist, poet, author and social scientist Kamla Bhasin were felicitated on the opening night of the festival.
The traditional group picture at the inaugural function of the 14th Asian Women’s Film Festival. IAWRT Trustees, Members, Supporters, Volunteers in a single frame. and student volunteers from Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, with Man Booker Prize winner, author Arundhati Roy at the Festival.Lastly, festival director Aradhana Kohli Kapur and Managing Trustee-IAWRT India, Archana Kapoor in a frame.
Interactive sessions with film-makers and curators from different countries.
Animation stills from the Korean Package. and the closing ceremony of the 14th edition of IAWRT Asian Women ‘s Film Festival.
