Say the Friends of Cinema, a bunch of ex-media students who got together to provide a platform and an audience for short filmmakers in the city. They celebrate their one-year anniversary with a selection of the best Independent shorts screened in the past year
Say the Friends of Cinema, a bunch of ex-media students who got together to provide a platform and an audience for short filmmakers in the city. They celebrate their one-year anniversary with a selection of the best Independent shorts screened in the past year
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In the past year, on one designated Saturday in the month, a bunch of film enthusiasts get together to watch films that are unlikely to enjoy a mainstream release. This Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of those monthly short film screenings under the name of Kalpana, which translates to 'imagination' from Hindi. The organisers of the screenings, Friends of Cinema (FoC), will celebrate in the way they know best: by watching more films.
Members of Friends of Cinema (Limin is in the blue shirt), who
organise weekly short film screenings at the NCPA under the
name of Kalpana
"We're planning on screening the best short films in the past year interspersed with the month's screenings," shares Limin Mathew of FoC. On an average, the team receives 45 to 50 short film entries every month, which after being screened for "vulgarity" and "offensive matter" are shortlisted to five or six. But to make the cut, the films must possess the elusive "filmmaking quotient" that Limin describes as "vision".
So that holiday video you shot of the wife and kids? Unlikely to pass muster. "We look for something that's different from 'holiday filmmaking'. We're looking for people who have devoted time to their script and made optimum use of their resources," says Limin. Possibly films like the popular Little Sivaji, which was shot in a budget of Rs 5, last year, and which has since got itself a sequel. Incidentally, the Rs 5 was spent on 'candy', a vital 'prop' in the five-minute Tamil film that attempts to spoof the south Indian film industry.
The group accepts short films, typically less than 20 minutes, in any language, provided it is subtitled in English. War of Roses, which will be screened as part of their one-year celebrations, is made by a director based in Malaysia, and is testament to the group's "international appeal" believes Limin, who is in the city to complete his internship with a film school in New York.
Post screenings members get together for a Q 'n' A session with one of the film's directors to ask the three concerns of every aspiring filmmaker: "budget, obstacles, and how to get into the industry," says Limin, who hopes that members will find the answers they need.
On Tomorrow, 6.30 pm
At Little Theatre, NCPA, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point.
Call 66223737
Log on to www.friendsofcinema.com
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