Buoyed by the success last year , the Cine Arts Society , Assam (Cine ASA) organized the 2ND Cine ASA Guwahati International Film Festival recently. Famous Sri Lankan Director Prasanna Vithanage’s film ‘ Akasa Kusum’ was the inaugural film of the festival and many more of his famous films were screened.. The Festival featured a restrospective of films by noted Spanish Director, Pedro Almodovar. The Tribute section of the festival featured films by Soth Korean director, Kim Ki Duk. Many other acclaimed contemporary films from Asian as well as European countries, particularly French and Romanian , were screened . National award Indian feature films were also part of the festival. A seminar titled “ Future roadmap for films in NE India ‘ was also held in the sidelines of the Festival and was attended by eminent actors , directors , journalists and film critics.
Lamenting the absence of an environment that promotes good films, eminent filmmaker Jahnu Barua said that the best of cinema was not reaching the public.
“I do not know the exact reasons but the best of films are not reaching the people… we probably lack an enabling environment that inculcates a taste for good cinema among the people. We are not communicating with the people to make them see good films,” Barua said while addressing the concluding function of the 2nd CineASA Guwahati International Film Festival-2010 .
Bemoaning the neglect suffered by a powerful medium like cinema, Baruah said that the filmmakers in Assam and the North-East were doing a good job despite being plagued by constraints.
“A good filmmaker puts his best into his film and wants people to see it but that is not happening here… People are not realising how much they are losing by missing good cinema,” he said, adding that all concerned needed to do something to reverse the trend.
Barua also felt that notwithstanding the boom in the number of films across the country, the big question was “whether we are checking the quality” in making the correct choices for viewing.
“But despite the setback faced by good cinema we should be perseverant,” he said and added that film festivals were a welcome sign as they place a number of above-average films on a single platform for public viewing. “This process must be carried further,” he said.
Noted cinematographer from Mumbai Mazhar Kamran termed cinema as ‘literature in visuals’, saying that its purpose extended beyond mere entertainment and profit-making. “It relates to the viewer directly and is a reflection of our lives and times. Its language is universal, and therefore, can bridge boundaries,” he said. His well-received film ‘Mohandas’ was screened in the Festival.
The winners of the short film contest for upcoming filmmakers of the North-East were also announced at the function. While Taste of Hilsa directed by N Langsa won the award for the best director, Eye of an Eye by Chaoba Thyem got the best film award. Smile by Kashyap Barbora bagged the special jury mention award.
Noted filmmaker Gautam Bora who was one of the judges for the short film contest, lauded the young filmmakers for their sincerity and expertise in highlighting some of the burning issues in a poignant manner.
M Maniram, whose film ‘Mon Jai’ won the Rajat Kamal award in the National Film Awards , was also felicitated at the function.
Lamenting the absence of an environment that promotes good films, eminent filmmaker Jahnu Barua said that the best of cinema was not reaching the public.
“I do not know the exact reasons but the best of films are not reaching the people… we probably lack an enabling environment that inculcates a taste for good cinema among the people. We are not communicating with the people to make them see good films,” Barua said while addressing the concluding function of the 2nd CineASA Guwahati International Film Festival-2010 .
Bemoaning the neglect suffered by a powerful medium like cinema, Baruah said that the filmmakers in Assam and the North-East were doing a good job despite being plagued by constraints.
“A good filmmaker puts his best into his film and wants people to see it but that is not happening here… People are not realising how much they are losing by missing good cinema,” he said, adding that all concerned needed to do something to reverse the trend.
Barua also felt that notwithstanding the boom in the number of films across the country, the big question was “whether we are checking the quality” in making the correct choices for viewing.
“But despite the setback faced by good cinema we should be perseverant,” he said and added that film festivals were a welcome sign as they place a number of above-average films on a single platform for public viewing. “This process must be carried further,” he said.
Noted cinematographer from Mumbai Mazhar Kamran termed cinema as ‘literature in visuals’, saying that its purpose extended beyond mere entertainment and profit-making. “It relates to the viewer directly and is a reflection of our lives and times. Its language is universal, and therefore, can bridge boundaries,” he said. His well-received film ‘Mohandas’ was screened in the Festival.
The winners of the short film contest for upcoming filmmakers of the North-East were also announced at the function. While Taste of Hilsa directed by N Langsa won the award for the best director, Eye of an Eye by Chaoba Thyem got the best film award. Smile by Kashyap Barbora bagged the special jury mention award.
Noted filmmaker Gautam Bora who was one of the judges for the short film contest, lauded the young filmmakers for their sincerity and expertise in highlighting some of the burning issues in a poignant manner.
M Maniram, whose film ‘Mon Jai’ won the Rajat Kamal award in the National Film Awards , was also felicitated at the function.
