THE INDIAN FESTIVAL OF FEATURES AND NON-FEATURES For JOHN ABRAHAM NATIONAL AWARDS

From this year onwards, SIGNS will be THE INDIAN FESTIVAL OF FEATURES AND NON-FEATURES, showcasing the best among independent, experimental and innovative attempts in film/ Video media from India.
SIGNS includes a national level competition for feature films. Films made in any format - video, digital or film - are eligible to participate in the competition. Apart from awards for categories like the best feature, short feature, non- feature and cinema of resistance, there will be another award for the best experimental work - cinema experimenta - from this year. The last two awards are irrespective of the category.
One of the prestigious gallery sections of the festival will be dedicated to video art from India and abroad.
SIGNS also showcases selected animation films, advertisements and spot films in different gallery sections.

Awards
1. Best Feature
(Duration 70 minutes or above)
Prize money: Rs 1 lakh

2. Best Documentary
Prize money: Rs 25,000/-

3. Best Short Feature
(Duration less than 70 minutes)
Prize money: Rs 25,000/-



4. " Cinema of Resistance"

(Award for the best film/video on subjects like state oppression, human rights violation, environmental issues
or any other matter that suppresses the human spirit, especially in the areas
Like gender equality, social/cultural identity etc)
Prize money : Rs25,000/-

5.the best experimental work – "cinema experimenta"
(Award for the best experimental attempt that expands the horizons of the medium, both aesthetically and technically.)
Prize money: Rs25, 000/-

All awards carry a Certificate of Merit and a memento.

Eligibility

All Features made after 1st Jan 2008 and
non features /short features made after 1st January 2007

Films submitted for previous editions of SIGNS/ JA awards are not eligible.

Duration:
70 minutes or above for features,
less than 70 minutes for Short Features and
no time limit for documentaries.

Language: Any language with English subtitle or dubbed in English.


Dateline

Last date for submission of applications : 5th JANUARY 2009
(along with a DVD copy and entry fee of Rs.2000/- for features and
Rs.500/-for non/ short features)

Intimation of selection : 20th JANUARY 2009

Final submission of selected films : 5th February 2009

Selection procedure
A preview committee of filmmakers, critics and technicians will short-list the entries, for screening before the award Jury.
Besides the films chosen for the Competition section, selected films will be screened in Focus, the non-Competitive section.

Format for final submission
The films must be submitted in DV/Mini DV or 35mm format.

How to Apply
Application forms are available from:

Federation of Film Societies of India.
Kalabhavan, Vazhuthacaud
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 014, Keralam.
E-mail :
or can be downloaded from www.ffsikeralam.org

Duly filled applications should reach the above address on or before
5th JANUARY 2009 accompanied by the following:

a. A copy of the film in DVD format
b. Necessary demand draft in favour of
Federation of Film Societies of India, payable at
Thiruvananthapuram. (Non refundable)
c. Brief synopsis of the film/documentary
d. Three stills from the film/documentary
e. Brief biography of the Director
f. Two photographs of the Director


more info can be had from
Federation of Film Societies of India
Kerala Sub Region
Kalabhavan, Vazhuthacad
Thiruvananthapuram.695014,Keralam.India
tel:0471 2321953, mob:+91 9446748294,
+91 9447401822,+91 9946089946.
www.ffsikeralam.org

Mexican film"Parque Via,won the top prize of 13th edition of International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)

Mexican film-maker Enrique Rivero , won the top prize of International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), the Golden Crow Pheasant Award known as Suvarna Chakoram and a cash prize of Rs. 1,000,000/- (about US$20,000), for his film "Parque Via,". The Spanish-born director Rivero follows Beto,the care taker. Beto, who has isolated himself in the empty house where he used to work as a servant, with his contacts limited to only two people... All days of Beto's life are same.In his mornings, the alarm rings at the same time; he takes a bath, eats his breakfast and gets to work. He cleans the house, cuts the lawn and irons his white suits. The routine of it doesn't seem to bother the old man .With the house up for sale Beto -- who has developed a fear of the world outside -- is confronted with the dilemma of leaving or finding a way to remain in his self-imposed prison .With the house up for sale Beto -- who has developed a fear of the world outside -- is confronted with the dilemma of leaving or finding a way to remain in his self-imposed prison .. The film earlier won the top prize of Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival . Fourteen films from Asia, Africa and Latin America have competed for the Golden and Silver Crow Pheasant Awards known as Suvarna /Rajatha Chakoram.. "My Marlon and Brando", directed by Huseyin Karabey from Turkey, which was chosen as the best debut film also got a 'Rajatha Chakoram' (Silver Pheasant). Sri Lankan film "Machan" directed by Uberto Pasolini won the audience award . The prize for the best Malayalam debut film instituted by director Mira Nair went to "Manjadikkuru" (Red seed from a tree) by Anjali Menon. The FIPRESCI jury selected "Postcards from Leningrad" as the best film and "Manjadikkuru" as the best Malayalam film. Special jury prizes were awarded to Nandita Das' for her debut film "Firaaq" and "Yellow House", an Algeria-France co-production directed by Amor Hakkar. The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Film Centre) award went to "My Marlon and Brando". Culture Minister M A Baby, Culture Ministe presented the main jury awards.the award function started with the concert of soofi singer Zilla khan .Theere was a bharathanatyam performance based on Vallathol poem after the award presentation function followed by the screening of the film "Parque Via,"

The Third annual National Short and Documentary Film Festival 2009 organised by Karimnagar Film Society

The Third annual National Short and Documentary Film Festival 2009 organised by Karimnagar Film Society.The Third annual National Short and Documentary Film Festival 2009 organised by Karimnagar Film Society (affiliated to FFSI) seeks documentaries, short films of any length and format for the festival scheduled from February 14-19 at Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh.Festival consists of two sections one competitive section for the India Roller Awards and the second one is the non-competitive festival of 3rd National Short and Documentary Film Festival 2009.In the competitive section two India Roller Awards for the short and documentary films separately.first prize carries Rs.10,000=00(Rupees ten thousand),a Memento and a citation and second prize Rs5000=00 (Rupees five thousand) ,Memento and a citation. The deadline is 31 December 2008.Also visit for further details:http://varalaanand-filmclub.blogspot.com

Firaaq -Nandita Das' debut in IFFK competition

Nandita Das is known to film enthusiasts for her performances in films like Fire, Earth, Bawander,Nalu Pennungal(four women ) and many other . She had in her credit over 30 feature films, in different languages, most of them have been shown in a number of international film festivals and have won her critical acclaim. She was a member of the jury at the Cannes IFF in 2005 and at the Karlovy Vary IFF in 2007. Firaaq is her directorial debut .The story is set over a 24-hour period, one month after the carnage that took place in Gujarat, India in 2002. This sectarian violence killed more than 3000 Muslims, hundreds of thousands were made homeless and the number of women raped is still unknown. The filmtraces the emotional journeys of ordinary people– somewhowere victims, some perpetrators and some who chose to watch silently. A middle class housewife closes the door on a victimand struggles to overcome her guilt. A bunch of youngmen having suffered the violence, seek revenge to fight their helplessness and anger. A boy desperately searches for hismissing father, having lost the rest of his family in the riots. A saintly musician clings on to his idealism, despite all the violence in the city, until an incident shakes his faith.

Usthad mesmerized IFFK delegates

It is a very rare experience to the delegates of an international film festival to witness a live performance of a maestro in connection with the screening of a film about him. It happened in the IFFFK today . Pandit Shivkumar Sharma , the renowned Sandoor legend stole the hearts of thousands of music lovers in the Nisagangdhi Auditoium here by performing two famous Hindusthani Ragas in Sandoor , the magic instrument with 100 strings. He started his concert in Rag Vachaspathi followed by Rag Pahadi with a new composition. He was accompanied in Tabla by Ramkumar Mishra and in Shruti by Haridas. The film Andardwani a celluloid ode to Pandit Sharma himself-his music and his life-by the accomplished director Jabbar Patel is being screened in the 13th edition of International Film Festival of Kerala .

A Glittering Start for IFFK 2008

The 13th edition of International film festival of Kerala (IFFK 2008) was inaugurated by V.S Achuthananthan, Chief Minister of Kerala, by lighting the traditional lamp ,in the presence of M.A Baby, Minister for Culture ,O.N.V Kurup, well known poet of Malayalam, K. R Vijaya,actor of yester years, Jayan Babu, Mayor of the city, Karen Shakhnazarov, Director from Russia, Dr. Venu, Cultural Secretary, Sivankutty, Member of Legislative Assembly, K.R Mohanan, Chairman Chalachitra Academy, Dr K. S Sreekumar , Executive Director of IFFK. Folkore Academy performed cultural programme, followed by the inaugural Palestinian film "Laila's Birthday" directed by Rashid Masharawi. A packed auditorium, including film enthusiasts, media persons and delegates from India and abroad witnessed the inaugural function . The ceremony paid homage to the martyrs who killed in the terrorist attack in Mumbai last month by lighting candles and recital of a poem written by the renowned poet O.N.V.Kurup.

'Laila's Birthday' directed by Rashid Masharawi is the opening film in the 13th IFFK

Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi's 'Laila's Birthday' will be the opening film in the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), which is scheduled to begin from December 12. Rashid Masharawi was born and raised in the Shati refugee camp, Gaza Strip, and is a self-taught filmmaker. In 1996 he founded the Cinema Production and Distribution Center (CPC), which offers workshops to young Palestinian filmmakers. The CPC also initiated the Mobile Cinema Project, which brings screenings to refugee camps. His credits as director include Curfew(93), Haifa (96), Ticket to Jerusalem (02), En directe de Palestine (02), Arafat, mon frère (05), Attente (05) and Laila's Birthday(08).
Life in an occupied territory is never easy. Director Rashid Masharawi, concentrates his focus on a single day, crafting a cynical comedy about a father, his daughter and the disorder all around them. It is the morning of his daughter's birthday. Abu Laila has promised to bring home a birthday cake to celebrate, but first he has to make it through the day. He sets out with his briefcase and steps into a taxi – which he drives. This is just the first of many incongruities. Abu Laila must explain time after time during his day, “I'm a judge, but actually I'm a taxi driver.” An esteemed member of the judiciary, he was invited to practise in Palestine, but bureaucracy has kept him from gaining his papers. So he supports his family by driving a taxi.It's not the humiliation that drives him crazy, it's the chaos. Abu Laila is a functionary. He is adamant that passengers fasten their seat belts. He insists on no smoking. He refuses passengers who jump into his cab with AK-47s slung over their shoulders. With his thin moustache and watery eyes, Mohamed Bakri has a dour, proper face built for comedy. He looks like Buster Keaton and moves through the dusty, ramshackle setting with the fastidiousness of Chaplin's Little Tramp. In fact, silent comedy may be one of the strongest influences in Laila's Birthday, even if it is a mobile phone that sets off one of the film's best chain of gags. Masharawi embeds the politics of his context under the surface. True, Abu Laila must endure armed clients, bomb scares and raging arguments about occupation, but mainly he just wants everyone to behave. When at last he makes it home and is asked how his day was, the payoff is just perfect.