“Selecting 20 films out of 500 submissions was really tough!” said Dharam Gulati, Chair of the Indian Panorama (IP) Non-Feature Jury at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). His view was echoed by all the jury members! The Chairperson, Dharam Gulati, along with fellow jury members Anjali Panjabi, Ashok Kashyap, Bobby Sarma Baruah, Rekha Gupta, A. Karthik Raaja, and Jyotsana Garg, addressed a press conference in Goa today. They also unanimously stated that they enjoyed watching all the films.
The Chairperson of Non-Features Jury stated that all jury-members were “on the same page for whatever films we selected”. “Basically, we were watching the content, which is more important than anything else”, he added. He urged the film makers whose films were not selected for IP Non-Features to send their films to other festivals like the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) and others.
While selecting films, the Jury also felt that they should select films from different regions and different languages, he added. The other Jury Members also expressed their views on their experience in shortlisting the 20 films that are being screened in Non-Features category of IP and also the projects they liked the most.
Dharam Gulati made a mention of ‘Battlefield’ – a documentary shot in Manipur, which is based on the Battle of Imphal, one of WWII’s bloodiest battles, that ravaged Manipur in 1944, leaving deep scars on its people.
Jury member Anjali Punjabi observed that the Indian Panorama Non-Feature section is a remarkable treasure trove of short fictions. She noted, “This year, we were fortunate to witness an incredible diversity of films.” Highlighting the freedom that short fictions offer, beyond the constraints of feature filmmaking and funding, she added that both veteran filmmakers and emerging student creators had contributed to this rich tapestry of storytelling.
Anjali highlighted the Opening Non-Feature, Kakori, for its unique blending of fiction and non-fiction. Bobby Sarma Baruah drew attention to the North-East’s representation, praising projects such as the Sikkimese film Shangrila and the Assamese entry Patralekha for their creativity and cultural depth.
Rekha Gupta underscored the significance of Kakori, noting it as the only film among 505 submissions that celebrates India’s Freedom Struggle and the stories of unsung heroes, coinciding with the centenary year of the Kakori Incident. She also highlighted the film Adi Kailash, which beautifully captures the journey along the route from India to Manosarovar, including the sacred Adi Kailash, reflecting both geographical and spiritual exploration.
Jyostana Garg recommended all to watch Piplantri, which highlights the story of a visionary sarpanch in Rajsamund district of Rajasthan who dealt uniquely and brought out solutions for the societal problems of female foeticide, dipping water level and deforestation. She also appreciated ‘Nilgiri’ for its great cinematography.
A Karthik Raaja is confident that the Jury has selected 20 good films amongst the submissions.
Ashok Kashyap summed up the Jury’s work by stating “We had to look at the content, the making, the presentation, and the language. Decision-making was tough. IFFI’S Indian Panorama stands for the culture of India. So, we have selected India”!
