Celebrate Cinema is More Than a Festival – It’s a Creative Movement: Meghna Ghai Puri

Since its inception in 2012 Celebrate Cinema has become Whistling Woods Internationalrsquos flagship event evolving into a unique platform where art meets audience In a candid conversation with MidDay WWI President shared how the festival has expanded beyond films to embrace the entire media and entertainment ecosystem With this yearrsquos theme Poetry amp Music in Indian Cinema A Tribute to Raj Kapoor amp Guru Dutt the event promises toinspire a new generation of creators while bridging the gap between industry stalwarts and aspiring talent1 Celebrate Cinema has become a flagship event for Whistling Woods International since its launch in 2012 What was the vision behind starting this festival and how has it evolved over the yearsWhen my father Subhash Ghai organized Cinema100 back in 2012 to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema his vision was very simple yet profound he wanted to create a space where cinema is not just watched but celebrated understood and truly experienced in all its dimensions That threeday festival was such a huge success that it naturally evolved into Celebrate Cinema which became our flagship event Over the years itrsquos grown into much more than a festival Wersquove gone from focusing only on films to celebrating the entire media and entertainment ecosystemtelevision digital animation even emerging technologies What began as a threeday celebration is now a movement that continues throughout the year inspiring collaborations sparking conversations and shaping careers What truly sets Celebrate Cinema apart from other festivals are our intensive handson workshops that run throughout the three days These arent passive learning experiences students work directly with industry masters on practical skills like improv acting woven and beaded jewellery screenwriting and many other skills Its this combination of inspiration through panels and practical application through workshops that makes our festival unique Students leave not just motivated but equipped with real skills they can immediately apply in their careers2 This years theme is Poetry amp Music in Indian Cinema A Tribute to Raj Kapoor amp Guru Dutt Cinema What inspired you to choose this theme and what significance does it hold for todays generation of filmmakers and cinema loversThis yearrsquos theme is very close to our hearts Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt represent the soul of Indian cinema They werenrsquot just filmmakers they were poets who expressed emotions through images and music In todayrsquos fastpaced digital world where content often chases trends we felt it was important to remind young creators about the timeless power of poetry and music in storytelling Their films combined entertainment with incredible emotional depth For the new generation studying their work isnrsquot about nostalgiaitrsquos about learning how to tell stories with authenticity with soul They showed us that commercial success and artistic integrity can go hand in hand and thatrsquos a lesson that will never lose its relevance3 Celebrate Cinema has been described as a platform where art meets audience How does this event contribute to nurturing new talent and bridging the gap between industry veterans and aspiring professionalsFor me Celebrate Cinema is where dreams meet their mentors Itrsquos a space where a studentrsquos nervous energy finds comfort in a masterrsquos generosity and something beautiful takes shape Irsquove seen the most powerful moments happen when industry veterans speak about their vulnerabilities on the paneltheir first rejection their biggest setback Those stories give our students the courage to believe that they too can make it Over the years Irsquove watched lifechanging mentorships emerge from a single heartfelt conversation about art and storytelling What makes this truly transformative are the intensive workshops we conduct over three daysthese arent just discussions theyre handson training sessions where students learn directly from industry professionals Whether its 2D Animation VFX Composition or on Artificial Intelligence our workshops give students practical skills they can immediately apply This exchange between generations is what keeps our industry aliveour veterans bring depth and experience while the younger voices bring fresh ideas and fearless creativity Together theyrsquore not just protecting cinemarsquos legacy theyrsquore reimagining it and building a true creative family4 The event features a mix of panel discussions workshops and interactive sessions Which sessions or highlights are you personally most excited about this year and whyIn all honesty Im excited about all our sessions since theyve been very thoughtfully created for media and entertainment aspirants ensuring they receive exactly what they need to flourish in this dynamic industry Along with the panels workshops and sessions were also announcing lsquoStudy UK Create to Connect Competition with the British Council at Celebrate Cinema which will be followed by an interactive chat with them This collaboration were building with the British Council represents something beautiful how creative boundaries dissolve when passionate minds come together across nations Every element of this years Celebrate Cinema is designed to inspire our students and show them that dreams have no limits Its about creating platforms where talent meets opportunity and where geographical distances become irrelevant in the pursuit of creative excellence5 With industry stalwarts students and enthusiasts coming together how do you see Celebrate Cinema shaping the future of Indias media amp entertainment industryFor me Celebrate Cinema is about reshaping how the industry collaborates and grows Itrsquos becoming one of Indiarsquos most influential creative ecosystems What excites me is the way we bring together the past and the futurepaying tribute to masters like Raj Kapoor and GuruDutt while also engaging with todayrsquos digital pioneers Wersquore also very conscious about democratizing access We want talent from smaller towns to have the same exposure as students from big cities Through workshops and masterclasses wersquore giving aspiring creatives the chance to learn directly from industry professionals That handson exposure is invaluable and it helps prepare them for real careers in media and entertainment6 As an educator and industry leader what message would you like to share with young filmmakers designers and creative professionals who will be attending Celebrate Cinema 2025My message is simple be authentic but also stay commercially aware Study the mastersnot to copy them but to understand why their work still moves us today Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt told deeply Indian stories but with emotions that were universal and thatrsquos why their films continue to resonate Today you have technology platforms and global audiences at your fingertips However the foundation hasnrsquot changedit remains about authentic storytelling that connects with people Donrsquot follow trends blindly set your own Be endlessly curiousabout music literature technology societybecause great creativity comes from connecting dots across different worlds And most importantly collaborate The future will belong to those who can work across disciplines cultures and generations7 Lastly how do you envision the next decade of Celebrate Cinema What new ideas or directions do you hope to explore in the future editionsAt Whistling Woods we aim to make Celebrate Cinema a truly inclusive movement that reaches every corner of India I hope to conduct the specialised workshops for NGO students and aspiring creators from smaller towns as well ensuring that talent is never limited by geography or resources I want to also expand our panels to include more diverse voices regional filmmakers international collaborators and emerging digital platforms giving us the collective power to influence industry standards and policies By 2030 I envision Celebrate Cinema as a yearround ecosystem where every passionate storyteller regardless of their background finds a platform to learn create and shine Its not just about growing an event its about nurturing a generation of authentic voices who will shape the future of Indian entertainment

Celebrate Cinema is More Than a Festival – It’s a Creative Movement: Meghna Ghai Puri

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Buzz / Article / Celebrate Cinema is More Than a Festival – It’s a Creative Movement: Meghna Ghai Puri

Celebrate Cinema is More Than a Festival – It’s a Creative Movement: Meghna Ghai Puri

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast