By:- Sushant Kumar Singh Deputy Editor ICN GROUP
Shimla: 4th Edition of three days International Film Festival of Shimla concluded today. Organized by ministry of information and broadcasting in collaboration with Himalayan velocity at Gaiety theater, the film festival screened 80 International as well as national films by various film makers from 23 countries. Famous writer and member of Sahitya Academy, S N Joshi was the chief guest of the closing ceremony and he awarded Cash prizes to the winners of various categories. AT today’s event screening of around 26 films took place. The highlights of the last day of the three days long International Film Festival were documentary film Ima Sabtri by Bobo Khuraijam, In the Thunder Lightning and Rain by Rajesh James, Gharat, a short film by Happy Sharma, Womeniya by Aakash Arun, Short Film Silent Scream by Prasanna Ponde and Sisak by Faraz Arif Ansari. The film festival had media interaction of various film makers where in an open forum the film makers shared their film making experience with media and the audience.
For the first time in the history of Indian Film Festivals, a special screening of the Film Festival was done at the Central Jail, Kanda for the Jail inmates who enjoyed watching the various national award winning films.
The film festival also had master classes by film makers Jennifer Alphonse and Rajesh James. Students from various students of Shimla like Auckland, St. Thomas, St. Edwards, Swarn Public School, Himalayan Public School, Paramount Public School, KV Jakhoo, Tara Hall, Blue Bells Dhalli, Monal Public School and Shimla Public School participated in the master class. The master classes with students were organized in collaboration with Keekli. During the master classes the students learned various Film making tips and were later presented with certificates for attending the master class.
National Award winning feature films Sinjar by Sandeep Pampally and Nawal the Jewel by Renjilal Damodaran were also screened in the film festival. Screening of International Films like Chemical, a short film by Irani Film Maker, Forouzan a short film by Mirabbas Khosravivinezhad from Iran, Lost and Found by Inbal Maoz Pesenzon from Israel, Asjkan Ahmadanejadmasti, It Rains Slowly a short film by Saeid Nejati from Iran, All There Is -a short film by Jeroen Mourmans from Netherland, It’s Also Love by Japanese Film Maker Masao Konno and Burkinabe Rising: The art of resistance in Burkina Faso a documentary by Ms. Lara Lee from Burkina Faso was done during the second day of the festival where the audience got a chance to watch some international Animated Films like Medium Rare by Luca Cioci from USA, Urban Survey by Lauren Carr from New Jeresy, USA and Icons by Ronnie Cramer from USA. Documentaries including Kullu Dussehra by Rajeev and A Ray of Light by Anirban Mitra, Tirtha Dasgupta were also appreciated by the audience.
Associated Partner of the Film festival are IDPA, Films Division, Cinesud Netherlands, Dutch Film Festival Netherlands, World Filmfare New York in collaboration with IFFS for films screening.
International Film Festival of Shimla Results:
International
Best Short Film: The Fog by Ali Shoorvarzi, Hoseyn Mahroughi
Special Jury Short Film: Its Also Love by Masao Konno/ Japan
Special Jury Short Film: Opaque by Anish Kunnath/ Singapore
Best Documentary-BURKINABÈ RISING: The art of resistance in Burkina Faso by Lara Lee from Burkina Faso
Special Jury Documentary: New Life by Veysi Altay from Turkey
National
1) Best Short Fiction: Anahut by Umesh Bagade/ Mumbai/ Marathi/Maharashtra
2) Spl Jury Short Fiction: Plucked by Tejus Yakhob/ Kannad/ Karnataka
3) Best Feature Film: Sinjar by Sandeep Pampally/ Jasari /Calicut, Kerala
4) Special Jury Feature Film: Nawal the jewel by Ranjilal Damodaran/ English/ Trivandrum, Kerala
5) Best Documentary: Ima Sabitri by Bobo Khuraijam/ Imphal, Manipur
6) Special Jury Documentary: Nanchi Se Banchi by Bijju Toppo & Meghnath Rupesh Kumar Sahoo-Cinematographer
7) Special Jury Documentary: Thunder lightning & Rain by Rajesh James/Kochhi, Kerala
Himachal
12) Best Documentary (State) In the Twilight Zone by Mela Ram Sharma
13) Special Jury Award (State) Karim Mohammed by Pawan Sharma
