The sixth edition of India International Women Festival features a long and strong list of women-centric films
The sixth edition of India International Women Festival features a long and strong list of women-centric films
Once, when the director of superhit comedy films No Entry, Singh is King and Welcome, Anees Bazmee was asked about the genre of films he would like to explore in his future projects, he replied, "There're only two genres, entertainment and super entertainment." 
Bright Star by Jane Campion
Undoubtedly, it's true when it comes to multiplexes, films must entertain. On the other hand, film festivals have a purpose, which may not convert into laughter or mushy emotions. The sixth edition of India International Women Film Festival too has put entertainment on the backburner. Instead it will touch a gamut women-related issues. Read on.
In a nutshell
The main idea of the festival is to portray women not just an object of pleasure on screen but also to show how powerful they are when they go behind the camera to make films.
"In majority of films, women are shown as substances of erotica, which creates a false impression. To prove a point that woman can be equally potent when it comes to shooting a film, we're featuring films that've been directed by them.
We have a strong line-up of films that'll deal with a issues related to sexuality, child psychology, love and professional commitments," says Shyamali Banerjee, chief advisor of the festival that opened on Monday with the screening of short films Diana by Aleem Khan and Welts by Magdalena Piekorz. On December 18, there's also a panel discussion on the relevance of women's film festival.
Paisa bolta hai
Money is 'nothing' when you have it in abundance. Else, it is everything, and no one knows it better than the organisers of this festival. "It wasn't easy to pull off the sixth edition," says Shyamali. She says: "We couldn't manage any fund for the festival and all that we received was sourced to rent the auditorium.
In the first few editions, we screened more over a hundred films but last year and this time due to this huge financial constraint, we had to take a relook at the operations. So we will screen only 35 films which include both feature and non-feature."u00a0
Glass half full
Even after the financial crunch, the organisers are upbeat about the series of screenings because the absence of guidelines from sponsors has given them freedom to design the event exactly the way they want to. "In 2006, an event management company assured us that they'll rope in sponsors and celebrities for the show.
But we refused because the only ones that're allowed to be glamorous at IIWFF are the films. Plus, we didn't want the focus to shift from issue to glitter. Film festivals for us are movements and we can't afford to behave like capitalists," adds Shyamali.
Cut-n-keep schedule
Today
1 pm: What is Honor
Vacuum by Maria Teresa
3 pm: Flea by Christine Wiederkehr
The White Masai by Hermine Huntgeburth
5 pm: Bright Star by Jane Campion
7 pm: The Woman from Sarajevo by Ella Alterman Both by Lisset Barcellos
December 15
11 am: Little Girl Lost by Krystal Diaz
One Night by Niki Karimi
1 pm: Needing a Nanny by Larisa Sadilova
3 pm: Imago Mundi by Lisl Ponger Lady Kul El Arab by Ibtisam Mara'ana
5 pm: Nina's Journey by Sweden
7 pm: Alaska by Annetta Marion
It's Me Now by Anna Jadowska
December 16
11 am: Maria's Grotto by Buthina Canaan Khouryu00a0It Happened Just Before by Anja Salomonowitz
1 PM: Delivery by Nikos Panayotopolus
3 PM: In the Shadow of Palms by Wayne Coles Janess Fissures by Alante Kavaite
5 pm: 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days by Christian Mongui
7 pm: Nothing Else Matters by Julia Von Heinz
December 17
11 am: Body But Nothing by Asli Ertruk Goodbye, Life by Ensieh Shah-Hosseini
1 pm: Gilaneh by Rakhshan Bani-Etemad and Mohsen Abdolvahab
3 pm: Stolen Holidays by Olivier Peyon
5 pm: Unveiled by Angalina Maccarone
7 pm: Happy Man by Malgozarta Szamuska
December 18
11 am: Swallowing Lies by Dominique Perrier and Das Fraulin by Andrea Staka
1 pm: Carla's list by Marcel Schupach
3 PM: Mother unknown by Taghreed Elsanhouri
5 PM: A burning mission -- rescue political prisoners of Taiwan
Teraz ja by Anny
7 PM: Let's Fall in Love by Wana Wu
Where: Muktadhara Auditorium, Banga Sanskriti Bhavan, 18-19 Bhai Veer Singh Marg, Gole Market
On till: December 18
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