Entertainment
Film Southasia kicks off
South Asia is going through hard times and the documentaries we have curated for the festival reflect the human condition of the region,” said Kanak Mani Dixit, chair of Film Southasia (FSA), during a press meet organised a day before the opening of the festival.South Asia is going through hard times and the documentaries we have curated for the festival reflect the human condition of the region,” said Kanak Mani Dixit, chair of Film Southasia (FSA), during a press meet organised a day before the opening of the festival.
The 11th edition of the festival, themed Documentary Bears Witness, will showcase 63 films that were selected from more than 300 submissions. This is the highest number of films to be screened at the festival so far. Selected by a seven-member committee, the large volume of documentaries reflects the historical legacy of documenting the current affairs that shape the life of people living in the region.
“This year the audience also has a unique opportunity of viewing 12 ‘Documentaries of Dissent’, which has been banned or censored in other parts of South Asia,” informed the festival director, Mitu Varma. According to Varma, the ‘documentaries of dissent’ reflect the courage of filmmakers to speak the truth and incorporating these films into the festival is a way of opposing censorship that plagues the South Asian region.
Speaking during the event, the festival director and chair iterated that Kathmandu has the best audience for non-fiction films in South Asia. The organisers of the festival informed that if there is a demand from the audience, provisions will be made for rescreening of the films.
The festival will start in the morning at Yala Maya Kendra with screening of ‘Student Films’ and Documentaries of Dissent, along with a masterclass from the Chief Guest of the festival, Sashi Kumar. There will be an opening ceremony in the evening to officially kick off the festival. The opening ceremony includes the screening of Chandrasekhar Reddy’s Fireflies in the Abyss, which depicts the life of Nepali migrant workers labouring in the coal pits of Meghalaya.
“While every film in the festival is worth your time, some of films such as Sawari, Holy Cow, Satisaal in Inferno, and Among the Believers, should not be missed,” said Dixit during the press meet.
To help the audience, the organisers have categorised the films according to their sub-genres, and this year a mobile app “Film Southasia 2017”, has been developed. A detailed schedule and new updates can be found in the app.
The festival will conclude on Novemeber 5. Tickets are priced at Rs 50.