6-10 Dec; online and physical! 12 am to 12 am
Screening Schedule : Day 01, 6 Dec 2020
1) Saree
Dir: Suma Josson; 72 min; Malayalam with Eng subtitles; 2001; India; Fiction; Retro ICLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
Gita and Radha, two young friends are on their way back from school. And they find themselves stranded in a no man's land between dreams, fantasy, fears, with life and death lurking behind every corner. For the children it is an initiation process through death into life.
2) Famine
Dir : Sanjiv Shah; 52 min; Gujarati with Eng subtitles; 1987; India; Doc; Retro IICLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
For centuries, the grasslands in the North- Western, in an otherwise arid region of Gujarat bordering Pakistan have been home to the Maldharis, a predominantly Muslim community of traditional cattle grazers who have a rich heritage of culture, art and music.
Fifty years after lndia's independence the entire pastoral community and their habitat is under threat of extinction from natural calamities and human intervention in the name of development. Traditional practices of survival have been disrupted; native knowledge and skills have been made redundant. In the fourth successive year of drought an entire population has been reduced to digging ditches and carrying mud - surviving on dole.
During this re-telling of peoples' histories, what emerges is an understanding of the larger causes of scarcities and famines. And the need to review the very processes of planning and development which have deprived not only the people of BANNl, but the dispossessed all over the world of the right to survive on their own terms.
3) Koothu
Dir: Sandhya Kumar; 52 min; Eng, Tamil with Eng subtitles; 2018; Doc; Filmmaker in FocusCLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
In many villages in Tamil Nadu, a theatre tradition still links people with a past. Closely connected with religion and caste rituals, koothu brings to life stories about gods, demigods, kings and demons from the Indian epics.
A typical koothu performance is an all-night show in which performers wear elaborate make-up, costumes and wooden ornaments, and simultaneously sing, dance and act on stage. Koothu companies tour the countryside, often commissioned by villages to perform for several consecutive nights. Yet, in spite of its enduring rural popularity and because of its low-caste associations, koothu struggles to find place and patronage in urban art circles.
Who creates the binaries of folk and classical? Through the work of two koothu masters, P. Rajagopal and Sambandan Thambiran, the film delves into questions of representation and patronage of the art form while presenting its art and aesthetics.
4) Shramjeevi
Dir: Tarun Bhartiya; 43.50 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2020; India; DocCLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
SHRAMJEEVI narrates the hopes and tragedies of the working class lives in Kapasehra village, one of the largest settlements of migrant workers in India.
5) La conquista de las ruinas
Dir. Eduardo Gómez; 88 min; Spanish with Eng subtitles; Argentina, Bolivia; 2020; Doc 
THE CONQUEST OF THE RUINS shows the unknown side of the expansion of cities that endangers our future. Paleontologists. Quarry workers. Works in construction and private neighborhoods. The earth unites and separates them all, and each one has an interpretation of what this world is and how it should be inhabited.
6) Katya I Vasya idut v shkoluDir. Yulia Vishnevets ; 90 min; Russian with Eng subtitles; Russia; 2020; Doc
LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE? Two young intellectuals, Katya and Vassya, come to a small industrial town to work as teachers. They want to change the system of scholastic education and the social situation in difficult regions. The school is a closed conservative world, where obedience and discipline are of the highest value. Young teachers discover that nationalism, sexism and homophobia are typical for their new environment. Children see the school as a prison and are completely indifferent to any new ideas. During one school year we observe attempts of our protagonists to bring new practices into the system. Young teachers try to speak with children about feminism, human rights and Russian politics, but the system pushes them out, and a comedy turns into a drama.
7) Ancestral Code
Dir. Volodymyr Lutskiy; 70 min; Ukrainian, Belorussian with Eng subtitles; Ukraine; 2020; Doc 
Documentary film «Ancestral Code» is a research of the origins of the Ukrainian people, the search for its identity through the study of the melodism of Slavic ethnographic heritage. Now many talk about brotherhood, spiritual intimacy, affinity. We want to analyze the connection between the neighboring peoples of Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus and Poland through music and folklore.
8) Noor Islam
Dir: Devshree Nath; 20 min; Assamese, Bengali with Eng subtitles; India; 2019; Doc
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM password : noordoc123
The documentary traces the struggles of one such native who is slowly losing his identity and eventually is deemed as an illegal immigrant. The film tries to explore his state of mind; of a person who is on the verge of losing his nationality and consequently losing almost everything he has.
His broken hopes cause a turbulence in his mind whilst the serene beauty of Assam and his humble lifestyle paint a contrast against this inner tempest.
9) Holy Rights
Dir: Farha Khatun; 53 min; Urdu with Eng subtitles; India; 2020; Doc
Safia, a deeply religious Muslim woman from Bhopal in Central India, driven by her belief that because of the patriarchal mindset of the interpreters of Sharia, Muslim women are denied equality and justice in the community. She joins a program that trains women as Qazis, (Muslim clerics who interpret and administer the personal law), which is traditionally a male preserve. The film documents her journey as she struggles and negotiates through hitherto uncharted territory, exploring the tensions that arise when women try to change the status quo and take control of narratives that so deeply affect their lives.
10) Udaan
Dir : Poorvi Priya, Priya Singh, Ritika Gupta, Varun Pandey, Vishruti Saraf ; 18.34 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; India; 2019 CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
Udaan, the movie, is based in Rafiq Nagar, Govandi, one of the most under- developed regions of Mumbai. It focuses on the issue of dignified livelihoods for marginalized women in Mumbai slums. Through the protagonists Johra and Fareeda, the documentary wades into the daily lives of women, issues of collectivization, and the way forward.
12) Kafir
Dir: Remya; 5.32 min; Malayalam with Eng subtitles; 2019; Doc
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
Kafir is a docu-fiction that explores the Kappiri myth of Fort Kochi, Kerala. In the film, an attempt to dig the real history behind African slaves brought in by the Portuguese is made. How a slave from Africa became the savior spirit of Fort Kochi is the question the story teller tries to crack open. In short, it's all about History, Myth, and Mystery behind the Kappirimuthappan of Fort Kochi.
13)
Ifigeneia: no more tears
Dir: George Georgakopoulos; 17.40 min; Greek with Eng subtitles; Greece; 2019; SF
When Ifigeneia gets invited for lunch to her future husband's family home, she doesn’t go empty handed. Hoping to make a good impression, she brings along a little girl. However, when two mysterious investigators suddenly appear, things get quite complicated.
14)
Gantabya – The Destination
Dir: Sahin Aktar; 27.36 min; Bengali with English subtitles; India; 2020; SF
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILMpassword : destination2020
Piyali and Ajay, a lower middle-class newly married couple from Kolkata is going to meet together after two months as Piyali was in her parents' home. Ajay, a rickshaw puller, in his mid-thirties is capable of buying either Piyali's favourite cuisine 'Biriyani' or condom. This placed Ajay in a mental dilemma what he should buy.
15)
Pakheru (The One Who Flies)
Dir: Nazir Khan; 22 min; Bundeli, Hindi with Eng subtitles; India; 2019; SF
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILMAn old man who works in a junkyard struggles with himself and the society around him to get a good night’s sleep.
16)
Collar
Dir: Katarina Ivanovich; 20 min; Russian with Eng subtitles; Russia; 2020; SF
Olechka's husband controls Her in everything, they live according to his laws, lead an ascetic lifestyle. The girl feels that she is happily married. But everything changes when a naked neighbor breaks into their quiet and measured life.
17)
Reflection
Dir: Elena Nodel; 8 min; Russian with Eng subtitles; Russis; 2020; SF
Imagine that after the death of a loved one you got the opportunity to communicate with the deceased with the help of artificial intelligence technologies – to say the last ‘forgive me’ and ‘goodbye’, to hug him for the last time, to close gestalt ...
18)
51+
Dir: Daniyar Abirov; 9.05 min; Kyrgiz with Eng subtitles; Kyrgyzstan; 2019; SF
It's not about love. A man falls in love with a young girl, but he is over 50 years old already.
19)
Tradition
Dir: Zhanuzak Mamytov; 13.09 min; Kyrgiz with Eng subtitles; Kyrgyzstan; 2019; SF
Circumcision in Kyrgyz culture is not just a tradition, but for kyrgyz male is an essential part of his life. Main character without attention of his parents mocked by his peers. How will he find solution of this situation?
20)
Scenes by the Sea
Dir: Oksana Degtyareva; 20.04 min; Russian with Eng subtitles; Russia; 2019; SF
Nina spends her time at her parents’ busy with the preparation for her younger sister’s wedding. Unexpectedly for her, her husband Nikita comes there too. Nina and Nikita have been going through a family relationships crisis. In order not to spoil the event, they try to pretend that everything is OK between them.
21)
Thank you Coach
Dir: Nikita Tarasov; 9 min; Russian with Eng subtitles; Russia; 2020; SF
An experienced coach Alexandra gives advices to housewife Sonya who wants to learn how to manipulate her husband. But Sonya’s husband also has his own coach.
23) Banana
Dir: Stepan Azarian; 14.31 min; Russian with Eng subtitles; Russia; 2020; SF
Sasha works as a promoter in a banana costume at a fruit and vegetable shop. At the one moment his usual life collapses - threats from the collector, deprivation of parental rights, dismissal from work - this is just the beginning.
24)
Bhija Neel Terpal (Wet Blue Tarpaulin)
Dir : Anunay Barbhuiya; 25.00 min; Sylheti, Marathi, Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2019; SF; Student Films
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILMA migrant from Assam working in a Marathi restaurant in Pune has to make a forged ID to continue working in the city while struggling to contact his wife back in Assam.
25)
Aashaon Ke Paar (Beyond Hope)
Dir: Rohit Kumar; 23 min; Hindi with Eng subtitles; 2020; SF; Student Films
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
A migrant labourer in India’s cosmopolis who works for a construction company is struggling to meet up to his aspiration. The crisis deepens him more when his newlywed wife arrives in the city to stay with him. Set in an environment where economic division is high and political atmosphere is charged, the film tells a story of hope and despair.
26)
Mannu : Sprouts of Endurance
Dir: Ramdas Kadavallur ; 113 min; Malayalam, Tamil; 2020; Director’s Cut; Doc
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILMpassword
: ramdaskadavallur@1234
The film chronicles the encroachment of vast stretches of a hilly land, the eviction of its rightful owners,the blatant exploitation of the laborers and their struggle for existence. It does not confine itself in narrating the evolution and impact of a labor struggle, but also focuses on another important social aspect in India, the significance of caste, the strangle hold it exerts on the psyche of the nation.
The documentary holds its mirror to the dichotomy of underlying neglect and discrimination meted out to the hapless people belonging to the lower echelons of society. It explores the ruthless impact of policies on the ‘land’ and ‘soil’, its uneven distribution and the resultant irreparable and long standing damage it causes to the environment and fragile terrain, which is abound with precious flora and fauna.
27)
Aayi Gayi
Dir: Anandana Kapur; 72 min; Hindi and English; 2019; Director's Cut; Doc
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILMpassword : Cinem@d
In Bihar, where “Sarkar mera bada bhai hai…” (The government is my older brother) is the righteous response to why one may illegally acquire electricity connections or not pay bills, a team of academics work on the ground to activate RLSS- the Revenue Linked Supply Scheme- and are met with various degrees of opposition and success.
The film explores the complex relationships people have with the State through the lens of electricity. Is it a right? Or is it a commodity? In a country with limited resources, can it be a social right if the government needs funds to keep the grid functional? And if so, can the normalization of non-payment of bills be reversed? Is it possible to create an ideal citizenry?
28) I'M A SECULARIST
Editor and Director - Surya Kumar Arumugam; Films from Tamilnadu
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
29) Sathi Sanam
Written & Direction: S.Karthick Tamilpriyan; Films from Tamilnadu
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
30) Kaaranam Director - Vignesh Pavithran; Films from Tamilnadu
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
31) Vangi Director: Iniyamithra; Films from Tamilnadu
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FILM
Sections :
1) Indian films
2) International films
3) Retro I - Suma Josson
4) Retro II - Sanjay Shah
5) Filmmaker in Focus - Sandhya Kumar
6) Films from Tamilnadu
7) Director's Cut
8) Student films
Films will be available from 12 am to 12 am for 24 hours!
