Details
Raju Vernekar
vernekar.raj@gmail.com
Many independent film makers received awards in the 13th Film Bazaar organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) as part of the recently concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Panaji in Goa.
“The awards were given away to independent filmmakers for projects selected in the “Film Bazaar Recommends (FBR)” and the “Work-in-Progress (WIP) section”. ‘Pedro’ (Kannada) by Natesh Hegde and ‘Switzerland’ by Ajitpal Singh, won the Prasad Lab DI Award Plus Moviebuff Appreciation Award from amongst the WIP Lab films. The awards were decided by mentors of the WIP Lab which included Philippa Campbell (Producer), Derek Malcolm (Film Critic), Marco Mueller, (Film Critic and Historian, Artistic Director of PYIFF, Pingyao) Olivia Stewart (Producer), Lizi Gelber (Editor), Jacques Comets (Film Editor).”
“From the incomplete FBR films, which have not yet got their Digital intermediate (DI is a motion picture finishing process which classically involves digitizing a motion picture and manipulating the colour and other image), done, the Prasad Lab DI Award Plus Moviebuff Appreciation Award went to ‘Pinki Elli?’ (Where Is Pinki?) by Prithvi Konanur. The jury members were Kiki Fung (Programmer from Hong Kong International Film Festival), Laurence Kardish (Artistic Director, FilmColumbia), Nashen Moodley (Festival Director, Sydney Film Festival).”
“The selected projects in the “WIP Lab 2019” included: “Laila Aur Satt Geet( The Shepherdess and seven songs) directed by Pushpendra Singh (Kojri), ‘Pedro’ (Kannada) by Natesh Hegde, “Shankar’s Fairies” directed by Irfana Majumdar(Hindi), “Switzerland” directed by Ajitpal Singh (Hindi) and “Uljhan” (Hindi) directed by Ashish Pant (Hindi). ”
“These awards included: Free DI by Prasad Labs, Two versions of Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI)/ Digital Cinema Package (DCP), free for a movie by qube( Qube Cinema Inc, is a provider of end-to-end digital cinema technology and solutions), Rs two lakh worth of trailer promotion by Qube cinema theatres (Max 300 theatres) for a movie. Film makers will get a Qube Wire account with wallet worth US $ 500 which can be redeemed during Qube wire deliveries. In a happy surprise, it was announced that the three remaining films in the WIP Lab will also receive DI at 50 per cent discount from Prasad Lab.”
““Work in the Progress Lab 2019” was open only for fiction features aiming for a theatrical release. The editor and director of the selected films screened their rough cuts to the panel of mentors and received one to one feed back. The international editor assigned to the film guided the director and editor of the film through two sessions of the editing lab, which took place at film bazaar itself. In the “Work in the Progress Lab”, Directors, producers and editors provided feedback on the edit with the aim of help filmmaker to achieve an accomplished final cut of the film. ”
“The VKAAO FBR (Film Bazaar Recommends) awards (VKAAO the crowd sourced theatre on demand model, jointly owned by India’s largest cinema exhibition player PVR Cinemas and leading ticketing service “BookMyShow”), chosen by an audience vote based on FBR pitch and views in the viewing record, went to two films-“Gamakghar”by Achal Mishra from the completed films by a debut director and “rk/rkay” by Rajat Kapoor from amongst the completed films by a non-debutant director. Each of these films won a certificate from VKAAO and will get a 75 per cent discount on theatrical distribution. This year there were 1116 delegates from 36 countries.”
“On the occasion, TCA Kalyani, Managing Director, NFDC said “film bazaar is a multi lingual, multi-national film market that gives a platform to diverse voices from across the region. This is clear from the fact that 368 projects across 30 plus languages at various stages of progress were present in the market under its different sections. ”
Film Bazaar is the largest South Asian film market. It encourages creative and financial collaboration between the South Asian and International film communities. It is created and organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
“Every edition witnesses increased national and international participation. Over the years, films such as “Lunch Box”, “Margarita With A Straw”, “Chauthi Koot”, “Qissa”, “Ship of Theseus”, “Titli”, “Court”, “Anhe Ghode Da Daan”, “Miss Lovely”, “Dum Lagake Haisha”, “Liar’s Dice” and “Thithi” have been through one or more programme of the Bazaar.”
“Since its inception in 2008. the Work In Progress lab, has moulded films which went to premiers at top international film festival and received critical acclaim. Some of the past projects of include “Eab Allay Woo !” (2008), “Aise Hee” (2018), “Nimtoh” (2018), “Soni” (2017), “Moothon” (2017), “Bombay Rose” (2016), “The Gold Laden Sheep” and “The Sacred Mountain” (2016), “Lipstick Under My Burkha” (2015), “Thithi” (2014), “Titli” (2013), “Killa” (2013), “Miss Lovely” (2011) and “Ship of Theseus” (2011).”
“Through various sessions at Knowledge Series, this year’s Film Bazaar aimed at covering the entire spectrum of making, maximizing potential and marketing of a film. There were also sessions on nurturing stories from the remotest parts of the country and on the emergence of authentic LGBT narratives. There had been panel discussions on demystifying Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and music rights and a complete overview of the business of OTT platforms in India. The bazaar provided information to understand how Co-production treaties work between nations and how Indian states are opening their arms to embrace content developers from every nook and corner of the world.”
“Over the course, Film Bazaar becomes the converging point for film buyers and sellers from all over the world. The focus is on discovering, supporting and showcasing South Asian content and talent in filmmaking, production and distribution. The Bazaar also facilitates the sales of world cinema in the South Asian region.”
