VFX Maharashtra ready to offer land for Centre of excellence for animation and gaming: Maha CM -

Maharashtra ready to offer land for Centre of excellence for animation and gaming: Maha CM

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore said his Ministry was seriously contemplating a dedicated channel for documentary, short and animation films.
However, he said it was difficult to say at this stage whether it would be a new channel or an existing channel like Doordarshan’s DD Bharati.

Speaking at the inauguration of the the 14th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films – MIFF 2016 – which was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, he said that documentaries more than features ‘shake us’ and bring about changes in society.

At the same time, he said that the Films Division which runs the festival needs to innovate and re-invent itself if it had to remain in the public eye and ‘find a reason to exist’. He said the MIFF was part of that process as it gave new vitality to documentary, short and feature films which get a strong platform here.
He was particularly satisfied that the Division had taken the bold step of FD Zone, whereby documentary films are being shown in other cities at the same time as MIFF.

He said his Ministry would continue to make efforts to make things easier for makers of documentary, short and animation films. He said the mushrooming of so many news and current affairs channels could be probed to help exhibit these films.

Documentary filmmakers were strong storytellers who moved the audiences with their films. He said “digital technology has ushered in a new era in film making and is greatly contributing to the documentary film movement.”

“It is heartening to note that our film makers, despite great financial hurdles have gone ahead and made excellent films, displaying a mature approach while dealing with social and economic issues. Such films should not remain unseen” Col Rathore said.

Rathore also said that the Government was in favour of ensuring that the power and freedom of the filmmaker is not limited by archaic certification laws and referred to setting up of the Shyam Benegal committee to examine the entire certification process.

Benegal was a Guest of Honour at the inauguration, which also included MIFF Brand Ambassador Jackie Shroff, Indian Documentary Producers Association President Mike Pandey and Festival Director Mukesh Sharma.

14th MIFF
Veteran wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Naresh Bedi, who along with his brother Rajesh has been making films for over 45 years, received the prestigious V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to documentary filmmaking. Eminent filmmaker Kiran Shantaram who is son of the late V Shantaram presented the award comprising a trophy, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh is instituted in memory of legendary film maker V Shantaram.

Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis said he had offered land to the central government in the film city in the entertainment and financial capital for building the long-pending Centre of Excellence in Animation and Gaming and said the state would extend all help in this process.

Meanwhile he said he was fascinated by the way in which documentary films captured the diversity of the world.

Earlier, Benegal said it was sad that while such a prestigious festival was being held, no serious thought was being given to exhibiting and distributing these films. He said ways had to be found to ensure that filmmakers who dabbled in the documentary format got their money back to be able to make more films as many were not even able to pay back the loans they took for such films. This was imperative at a time when digital cameras and even cellphones could be used to make films.

Speaking after receiving his award, Bedi said that he had never thought about the monetary consideration when he decided to dabble in making films on wildlife. But he was greatly encouraged when his film became the first to win the top Red Panda award Wildbeast Film Festival in Bristol, known as the Green Oscar, way back in 1984. He was thus the first Indian and first Asian to get the award. Bedi also related some instances of the risks he took to make films, like grappling with a rhinoceros or tigers or gettijng stuck in freezing water. He said his journey as a filmmaker had helped him make many discoveries about wildlife and conservation.

Shroff said he knew little about documentary filmmaking but agreed to become the first Brand Ambassador because he was fascinated by the medium. He said the cellphone was a great tool for filmmaking and he had seen some excellent films being made with mobiles.
Sharma said documentaries were made even at the turn of the nineteenth century by Indians but it was the Films Division and its precursor organization which had given strength to the medium. He said the archives of the Division had very large treasure troves of films.

A dance drama sending out the message that peacocks should not be hunted was performed before the opening film: ‘Cherub of the Mist’ made by the Bedi brothers about the life of two cute red pandas.
A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the Festival, which is held every second year in Mumbai. The Festival concludes on 3 February.

The event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry is supported by the Maharashtra Government.

MIFF will feature 30 films in the International Competition, including 12 from India, and 27 films in National Competition vying for the Golden Conch Award. .
The screenings will be held at the Films Division theatres, Russian Culture Centre and Sophia College theatres at Pedder Road, Mumbai. Screenings will also be held at the Mumbai University auditorium Kalina, Mumbai and Doordashan Kendra (Worli).

Apart from International and National competition, there is screening of films in MIFF Prism, Indian Premieres, Jury retrospectives, Animation and award winning films from different countries, Children’s documentary films, North East package, FD and PSBT (Public Service Broadcasting Trust) films, homages etc.

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