The five-day TRI CONTINENTAL FILM FESTIVAL, organized by The International Centre, Goa, Moving Images and Breakthrough, began yesterday at The International Centre, Goa.
The chief guest on this occasion, Anuja Ghosalkar, Programme Coordinator, Breakthrough said the main aim of the showcasing such films is to promote film culture on issues such as human rights. She hoped that next year Breakthrough will plan to hold a full festival in Goa which travels to different parts of India. She also mentioned that the internationally acclaimed films screened at this festival are part of the Gold List made up of selected films from last three festivals. The M Rajaretnam, Director/ Chief Executive of The International Centre, Goa expressed that International Centre will continue to be committed to promote such activities. Earlier Anjali D’Souza, Chairperson of Moving Images welcomed the guests and introduced Ms. Ghosalkar to the guests.
The Inauguration was followed by the screening of the film The Rockstar and the Mullahs directed by Ruhi Hamid & Angus Macqueen and Return to Kandhar directed by Nelofer Pazira & Paul Jay.
The discussion began with questioning the objectivity and veracity of the documentary film form in portraying reality. Anuja Ghosalkar felt that, especially in the second film the perspective was much skewed toward a western ethic. Jason Fernandes objected to the demonizing of Islam by the West. Many agreed that we should use these films to look inward at our own society and politics and identify religious intolerance and fundamentalism in India. Sameer Yasir a student of International Relations at the Goa University from Kashmir felt that India is a secular democracy and doesn’t face the problems of Islamic States depicted in these films. In “Return….” the view was also expressed about a certain condescending attitude that many exiles and immigrants from the east returning to their homeland have, that everything is so much better in the west and that the countries they return to are so backward and chaotic. And that the people living in these countries need the help of the west to tell their stories to develop into progressive, tolerant and just societies
For the first time Moving Images and International Centre is organizing a full five days festival in Goa where eighteen films will be showcased to the audiences from the different walks of the life. The films will be followed by the discussions which is an interesting part and motive behind holding the festival.
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The International Centre, Goa
Goa Universtiy Road, Dona Paula, Goa 403 004, India
Ph: (91)832-2452805, (91)832-2452813
www.goadialogues.com