A trip to 54th IFFI 2023
- Part 2 -

Meghachandra Kongbam *

This esteemed medal is bestowed upon a film that embodies the ideals promoted by UNESCO, emphasizing tolerance, intercultural dialogue, and a culture of peace. A distinguished six-member International Jury led by Ms. Isabelle Danel, Honorary President of the International Federation of Film Critics from France, meticulously assessed the entries.

Ultimately, the coveted ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal was awarded to the French, British, and Greek co-production - Drift directed by Anthony Chen. The film which explores how navigating life's uncertainties can forge unexpected bonds, skilfully draws the lines of hope and resilience, as noted by the International Jury.

The Festival Kaleidoscope brings together eighteen exceptional films from both veteran filmmakers and emerging powerhouse talents. These films, critically acclaimed hits at renowned international film festivals throughout the year, create a diverse and captivating cinematic mosaic. Notable entries in the Kaleidoscope include Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, a 2023 French courtroom drama thriller that clinched the Palm d’Or at Cannes 2023.

Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut- How to Have Sex, a 2023 British drama film and winner of Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2023 adds to the array. Additionally, The Zone of Interest, a 2023 historical drama written and directed by Jonathan Glazer secured the Grand Prix and the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes 2023 and stands as the British entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

The Cinema of the World stands as IFFI's official selection of international feature films hailing from over 78 countries. This curated collection showcases an unparalleled array of film experiences within contemporary world cinema.

Notably, all 103 feature films featured in this section were either world premieres, international premieres, Asia premieres or India premieres. The Docu-montage section comprises a mosaic of 10 documentaries and docu-dramas that intricately explore the complex structures of life, delving into the realms of politics, economy, history, society, and aesthetics.

Films such as Manthia Diawara’s AI: African Intelligence, Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck’s And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine, and Ulises de la Orden’s The Trial have already captivated audiences at Berlinale 2023.

The Animation section features a curated selection of 12 animated films from around the world including India. These films are chosen for their aesthetic ingenuity and narrative subversion aiming to foster the growth of the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) sector.

The Intergrade presents a carefully curated selection of five experimental films that boldly speak in original, idiosyncratic voices, pushing the boundaries of what we traditionally define as cinema. The Macabre Dreams offers a shuddering collection of four films that promise to immerse the audience in realms of suspense, terror, and the uncanny as the night descends upon IFFI.

The Restored Classics revisits and canonizes the rich history of cinema through a showcase of 10 cinematic milestones, a collaboration involving the National Film Archive of Hungary, Warner Bros, Dovzhenka NFA Ukraine, and the National Film Archive of India.

The UNICEF@IFFI features a collection of five notable films that reflect on the dynamic forces shaping childhood and examine its socio-economic contexts. The Indian Panorama, comprising 25 feature films and 20 non-feature films, takes centre stage, giving prominence to the festival. This year, Hollywood star Michael Douglas was honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the closing ceremony of the festival.

PROUD MOMENT FOR MANIPURI CINEMA

It was a moment of pride for Manipuri cinema at the festival as Dr. Meena Longjam’s non-feature film - Andro Dreams, served as the opening film for the Indian Panorama section, alongside Anand Ekarshi’s feature - Aattam.

The cast and crew of Andro Dreams along with the director were warmly received on the red carpet during the festival's opening ceremony. Adding to Manipuri cinema's presence in the Indian Panorama section, the non-feature film Last Meet, directed by Guwahati-based filmmaker Waribam Dorendra Singh, is an emotional exploration of human relationships and connections.

On November 22 at INOX-II, during the Indian Panorama's opening ceremony, Neerja Shekhar, Additional Secretary of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, honoured the jury members for both non-feature and feature films.

Remarkably, National award-winning filmmaker, critic and author Bobby Wahengbam, part of the non-feature films jury, and another National award-winning filmmaker and lyricist Mayanglambam Romi Meitei, a member of the feature films jury, shared the stage, contributing to another proud moment for Manipuri cinema.

FILM BAZAAR

Film Bazaar stands as South Asia’s largest global film market, organized annually by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) alongside the International Film Festival of India. This grand event takes place at the Marriott Resort in Goa with the 17th edition held from November 20-24, 2023.

With a dedicated focus on discovering, supporting, and showcasing South Asian content and talent in filmmaking, production and distribution, the Bazaar plays a pivotal role in facilitating the sales of world cinema in the South Asian region.

Each year, over 200 films from across South Asia are pitched to various stakeholders, including sales agents, buyers, film festival programmers and financiers, presenting their projects to both international and Indian producers, distributors, festival programmers, financiers and sales professionals from around the world.

The significance of Film Bazaar has consistently gained momentum, reflecting the rapid growth of the media and entertainment sector in India, establishing itself as a crucial platform in the industry. The Co-Production Market is a pivotal segment of Film Bazaar, initiated in 2007 with the objective of providing a platform for both Indian and foreign producers to connect with potential co-producers.

This collaboration aims to secure financial assistance, location support, or post-production facilities for their respective projects. In the current edition, 20 projects were carefully selected from a pool of 142 submissions spanning 19 countries, showcasing a diverse range of 27 languages.

The Work-In-Progress Lab offers selected filmmakers the opportunity to present the rough cut of their films to a distinguished panel of international advisors. This panel comprises film festival directors, film critics, producers and editors who provide valuable feedback on the edit, aiming to assist the filmmaker in achieving a polished final cut of the film.

In the Work-In-Progress Lab 2023, Lakshmipriya Devi's Manipuri feature film - The Gift, was chosen alongside four other films: Jayan Cherian's The Rhythm of Dammam (Konkani), Suman Mukhopadhyay's Putul Nacher Itikatha (Bengali), Natesh Hegde's Vaghachipani (Kannada/Malayalam), and Grant Alan Davis's Rehearsal for a Funeral (Konkani/English).

The Viewing Room showcases films that are either recently completed or still in postproduction, actively seeking opportunities such as film festivals, world sales, distribution partners or finishing funds. Ten films of Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR) including features and documentaries were selected by the Film Bazaar team from over 200 films submitted for the Viewing Room this year.

One notable selection from Film Bazaar Recommends 2023 is Haobam Paban Kumar's 26-minute documentary- Iron Women of Manipur. In addition to the Viewing Room, other segments of the Film Bazaar include the Screenwriters’ Lab, Book to Box Office, VFX and Tech Pavilion, Producers’ Workshop and Knowledge Series.

To be continued...