The Films Division complex on Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg, better known as Pedder Road, is one of the Mumbai city’s prettiest enclaves, although it’s a moot point how long that will remain preserved, considering the powers that be have hinted at its closure.

Heedless of the uncertain future, people flocked to the FD between May 29 and June 4. The Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF 2022) was a bonanza of documentaries, short films, workshops, master classes, special packages comprising Oscar-winning films apart from a large number of student films from institutions across the country notably MIT ADT University Institute of Design, Pune, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Auroville Film Institute, Pondicherry and the Satyajit Ray Film and TV Institute, Kolkata.

Approximately 4,000 film lovers registered as delegates, including 1,400 students. Bangladesh was the ‘Country of Focus’ this year in commemoration of its 50 years of independence, and 11 films from the country were presented during MIFF 2022.

The Dutch film Turn Your Body To The Sun, directed by Aliona Van der Horst, bagged the Golden Conch for the Best Documentary of the Festival. There were handsome cash prizes in addition to the beautiful trophy. The Golden Conch awardee won Rs 10 lakhs.

Polish animation film Prince In A Pastry Shop won the Silver Conch in the International Category and bagged the prize money of Rs 5 lakhs and a trophy. Polish Consul General Damien Irzyk accepted the award on behalf of the film director, Katarzyna Agopsowicz.

Malayalam film Saakshatkaaram and Gudmund Helsmsal’s Brother Toll, a film from Faroe Islands of Denmark in the Faroese language, shared the Silver Conch for Best Short Fiction in the International Category. Saakshatkaaram’s director, Sudesh Balan, is a Communication Design faculty member at the IDC School of Design in IIT Bombay, of which he is also an alumnus.

Eighteen documentary films from Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Panama, South Korea and the U.K., besides India, were in the International Competition section of MIFF 2022.

Eminent film director, Shyam Benegal, lauded non-feature filmmakers saying that they are self-motivated to make films that usually don’t have an audience unlike mainstream films. “When you make a documentary or a short film you don’t have an ensured audience unlike a feature film; you make a short film because you are totally self-motivated; the inspiration to make the film has to come from within.”

Interestingly, there were only five films shortlisted for the Best Student Films Award from the renowned Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA).

Jury chairperson for the National competition of MIFF 2022, Sanjit Narvekar, expressed his views on this occasion. “We watched a total of 67 movies and observed a radical change in the way short films are made.” He lamented that the number of documentaries was low and noted that the number of films made by the students were only five in total which was disappointing. He suggested that it should be increased. There was a separate section for student films in the past, and he strongly urged for its re-opening.

International segment chairperson, French-Irani filmmaker, Mina Rad, exhorted young people to participate in large numbers and commended the winner, Megha, a Bengali film directed by Rishi Bhaumik.

The titular character is a little girl who harbours a horrifying secret that slowly distorts her sense of reality. The film was adjudged awards winner for its “rare use of animation to tackle a serious theme which is rarely spoken about even within family circles and for its unerring use of colour which enhances and underscores the poignancy of the theme”, cited the jury. The award carries a trophy, certificate and prize money of Rs 1 lakh.

Some lucky kids managed to attend the weeklong fest in its entirety; others not so fortunate, could catch only a couple of days. One group from the Arena School of Animation in Vile Parle came especially for the VFX screenings. “We’re so happy to be here,” said Sayli, “even if it’s not for the entire duration of the festival.”

When asked to name their favourite VFX film, they chorused, Pacific Rim (the American science fiction monster film directed by Guillermo del Toro).

It must be mentioned that away from the hustle and bustle of the bi-annual fest, the IDPA, which has tied up with city colleges for free screenings and film appreciation workshops online and offline, plans to expand its footprint across India.

In the recent past, special packages of select documentary films were curated for off-campus screenings at Mumbai University (Kalina campus), Deviprasad Goenka Management College of Media Studies (Malad), Usha Pravin Gandhi College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Vile Parle) among other institutions. The Master Classes connecting the Industry with the Market were a big hit with young delegates.

In his Master Class, poet, writer, lyricist, screenwriter and adman, Prasoon Joshi, encouraged young aspirants to begin writing stories based on their own first hand experiences and feelings, “Write about what you know and what you feel about… The next stage would be to write by drawing from others’ experiences,” he said.

Israeli filmmaker, academic (professor in NYU, among other institutions) and MIFF juror Dan Wolman screened his 2020 film The Fringe’s Heart which focuses on two productions of the Beersheba Fringe Theatre co-founded by Yoav Michaeli: Be-Polar (inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s Diary Of A Madman) and Goral Hagra, Yoav’s biographical play about an ancient Kabbalistic ritual that helped identify 35 young paramilitaries who were killed and mutilated by Arabs in 1948 at Kfar Etzion near Jerusalem. For Yoav, the film is intensely personal since among the youths killed was his teenaged Uncle Amnon, “who was more like a father to us children, since our own father had deserted us.”

Also making a pitch for personalised filmmaking is Carter Pilcher, Founder-CEO of ShortsTV, a leading short movie entertainment company. It is interesting that like journalists of yesteryear who never went to journalism school, Pilcher did not receive formal education in the creation of moving images. He has been repeatedly nominated for his short films and is on the board of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

“So inspirational,” said a young dropout who dreams of participating at MIFF with a film.

Ravinder Bhakar, Managing Director, NFDC India & Director, MIFF, speaking at the valedictory function said, “We will try to make this festival even bigger and support filmmakers in the best possible manner.”

The post Students rave about MIFF 2022 appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Bijendra Kumar, father of Sujeet, still remembers the moment — which was around 10 years ago — when he told other villagers that he was sending his son to a school in Rajasthan so he could study and become an Army officer. Most of them laughed at him and said: “As a sanitation worker he is thinking too big.”

On June 12, Bijendra Kumar grinned as he watched his 21-year-old son, Sujeet, a graduate from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, become the first Army officer from his village of Basila. Bijendra Kumar is a sanitation worker and his wife is an “Asha worker”. 

Kumar told the media in an interview, “I held a broom, but my son will protect the country with his guns.” The family huddled around the television to watch the Passing Out Parade as the family members of the Gentleman Cadets (CGs) were not allowed to be present during the ceremony due to Covid-19. Sujeet expressed his feeling and said, “I would have loved to see the pride and the smile on my parents’ face.” 

Sujeet will soon be posted as Army Ordnance Corps and he hopes that his achievement will motivate more youngsters in his village to don the olive green uniform. Kumar said that he had already inspired his siblings. All his siblings are now preparing for competitive exams. Kumar has taken his other two children to Varanasi in the hope that they access to better education facilities. 

Kumar said, “My wife lives alone in the village, as she has to look after the health of people in that area. We do visit her once in a while but we have decided that we will do everything in our power to help our kids get the career they want.”

After seeing his elder son becoming successful, now Kumar is confident that his family’s dreams will come true. He said, “I know all my children will achieve what they aspire to one day. Challenges can only make people stronger. My elder daughter finished school two years ago but I couldn’t arrange money for medical coaching so she is studying on her own for MBBS. My younger daughter wants to become an IAS officer while my younger son wants to get into IIT.”

(Courtesy: The Times of India)

The post Sanitation worker’s son commissioned Army Officer appeared first on The Teenager Today.

Mumbai, India’s financial capital, is also home to the world’s largest slums. Here, the world’s richest and poorest live alongside each other! Experts feared that Mumbai’s slums would explode with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, on the contrary, during both the first and second wave of the pandemic, Mumbai’s slums exploded with compassion, resilience, and a strong community spirit.

In March 2020, Covid-19, combined with the sudden and complete lockdown, struck a deadly blow to the residents of these slums — lower middle class and unorganized workers, migrant daily wage labourers, and small entrepreneurs. As the people here are used to facing crises, information about pandemic control spread like wildfire and people co-operated with the efforts of medical and security workers.

There was an equally deadly enemy: poverty! With all establishments closed down and no means of travel outside the city, the working class, especially the daily wage earners and migrant labourers faced an unprecedented crisis, leading to starvation and daily deaths.

It was then that the undying spirit of community-based organizations all over Mumbai, swung into action. It was not only NGOs from outside, but also NGOs born and nurtured in the slums that decided that no one should go hungry. Even as you read this article, they are waging their battles against poverty and hunger during the second wave of the pandemic too. Three such organizations are: the Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), Hum Sab Ek Hain Foundation and the Mohalla Committee Movement Trust (MCMT).

Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan

The Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) office, a small two-storey structure sits in the heart of the slums of Kherwadi and Bandra East. Founded in 2007 by academicians turned social activists Noorjehan Safia Niaz and Zakia Soman, this women’s organization has been leading struggles for Muslim women’s personal and professional rights, domestic and political freedom, for equal access to education, employment and healthcare. The ban on triple talaq and the movement for opening places of worship to women are among some of their achievements.

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

The post The Miracle Workers of Mumbai’s Slums appeared first on The Teenager Today.

“Dance is a gift that brings people together with creativity and music. It is joyous, and that happiness brings unity.” Mayur from Mumbai is one of the Youth for a United World of the Focolare movement, whose aim is to build unity on all fronts. He started dancing when he was in school, taking part in different dance events and discovering his special talent.

He started his dance academy in 2008 with seven students. After 12 years, more than 800 students have passed through the academy. “My motive is to share my dance talent with the world. With my students we have participated in many reality shows, like India’s Got Talent, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Etv Dina Dhin Dha and other dance shows. My greatest joy is seeing my students getting a chance to perform and excel in public.”

Always eager to encourage those who show they have a talent in dancing, Mayur encourages his students to use dance to build bridges and grow in their self-esteem. “Whatever I am doing today is the fruit of what I have learned from the Focolare. I get so many values and ideas from there, which in turn, I share in my own way with others. My dance studio in Mumbai is the only source of income for me. Some of my students do not have the money to pay the fees for classes; yet I let them come for classes just the same.”

During the lockdown Mayur found a way to reach out to his students. “When I heard about the lockdown I was totally disturbed. My fear was not only about losing my income but I was more worried for my students. I knew I would miss them all, and I was also worried that they would lose hope and confidence. I did not want that to happen, and I wanted to assure them that everything will be okay.

I got in touch with all of them and started giving them a few tasks to do, one after another. I asked them to send me 30-second videos of their performances, trying to keep them and their parents active, connected and happy during these stressful days.

On Mother’s Day I asked all mothers and students to choreograph a dance and send me their videos. In another activity, I asked them to prepare videos to spread awareness of good health practices. I gave a different script to each student on WhatsApp about using masks, sanitising hands, social distancing, disposing masks, etc., and asked them to act their part alone or with their parents. The final video that we put together was greatly appreciated.

I am taking the Covid-19 situation in a positive way, because something very special has happened in my family. My elder sister had left us due to some dispute in the family. She never contacted us and we did not know where she was. Now, due to the pandemic she has come back home and after many years we are rebuilding this broken relationship with love and forgiveness. So while there are many difficulties and challenges at this time, there are also many reasons to be positive, and for this I am very grateful to God and to the Focolare.”

— Rose Aloysius

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions for more articles like this.

The post Unity and dance appeared first on The Teenager Today.