ART, POLITICS AND SOCIAL ACTIVISM
The Documentary as a Force for Change
A Panel Discussion with Anand Patwardhan, Nishtha Jain and Amit Virmani
The documentary as a force for social and political change is a well-established and prominent part of the genre. But how do documentary filmmakers maintain a sense of personal creativity and their own vision while tackling subjects that are often powerful, overwhelming and urgent in their own right? Is the subject more important than the filmmaking vision? Or is a filmmaker’s first responsibility to their own creative impulse?
Anand Patwardhan, Nishtha Jain and Amit Virmani approach these questions through their own experiences as filmmakers who have tackled critical socio-political issues while preserving their artistic integrity. The discussion promises to be wide-ranging, stimulating, and deeply illuminating, shedding light on the mysterious conflation of artistic compulsion and social conscience.
Friday, October 25
5:45 PM at the Club House
FIRST TAKE: FIRST FEATURE
Breaking the First Film Barrier
A Panel Discussion with Nitin Kakkar, Sange Dorjee Thongdok, Maximón Monihan, Guneet Monga, Nagraj Manjule, Sylvia Wilczynski and Ramon Zürcher
Of the millions of aspiring filmmakers around the world who dream everyday of making their first feature, only a handful succeed, and fewer yet go on to make a successful career of it. And yet, the odds don’t seem to deter anyone; for every one person whose dreams are dashed, several more rush in happily to take up the challenge.
What does it take to break the barrier and make that first feature film? How does it feel, after years of struggling, to suddenly show your film in theatres and film festivals, and have audiences and critics respond to it? Every filmmaker has a unique story of how he or she got there, but at some deeper level there is something in common that they all share: the agony and ecstasy, and the trials and tribulations, of making that first film. The panelists taking part are all first-time helmers or producers who have helped realize that goal. Their personal stories and experiences promise to make for a riveting and illuminating discussion.
Saturday, October 26
2:30 PM at the Club House