Bombay 1st October
Goregaon’s Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre witnessed today city’s largest Short-Film event. India Film Project (IFP) organized screenings of award winning short films out of the 1,200 entries. Apart from awarding best creative work and showing award winning work, there were very engaging discussions with cool filmmakers, best web content creators and film critics. There was a workshop on scripting and loads of tips on film making.
The driving force behind India Film Project is a 27 year young man Ritam Bhatnagar. He is an engineer and management expert by training and film maker, film marketing professional by choice. He says that his India Film Project reflects the new de-centralised democratic nature of film making today. “People have already started taking video content seriously, it’s not restricted to home videos,” says Bhatnager. “The current generation is experimenting with the most unusual themes.”
Bhatnagar is able to make India Film Project as India’s one of the largest film making event, attracting more than 23,600 filmmakers till now. Past editions saw film makers ranging from 4 year old boy to eldest being a 72 year old ‘kaka’, profile of film makers as diverse as housewives to students to CAs to RJs to doctors to rickshaw drivers, from all the major cities across the national boundary and beyond. Jury members in the past were film makers Shyam Benegal, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Shoojit Sircar, Hansal Mehta, Vikramaditya Motwane, Nikhil Advani, Umesh Shukla, Omung Kumar, Sanjay Gadhvi, Bejoy Nambiar, Rajesh Mapuskar, Ketan Mehta, Onir, Guneet Monga and film critics Raja Sen, Komal Nahta. This year the entries were judged by Madhur Bhandarkar, Nagesh Kukunoor, Shriram Raghavan and Vetrimaaran.
Film making is now entering into an interesting phase. With advancement in technology, this platform is available to those who are passionate of doing something in the field. Gone were days when this craft was available to those who could afford high cost, now a DSLR with video capability or even a smart phone can empower you to shoot HD quality videos. India Film Project started at the right time and evolved as an online and on-ground platform to make a film over the weekend, away from the huff-buff schedule, and showcase it to people around and get awarded. Sure it is not a cakewalk, and certainly not when one has to make a film in 50 hours. With a handful of hours to make passion a reality, all have to do is write the script, select the most appropriate locations, get the people do acting, do the edit, compose music and make the best possible film adhering to the competition theme.
IFP had a very humble beginning as Ahmedabad Film Project. Story begin from Ahmedabad city in the year 2011, in the first year itself, more than 600 people participated from across the country making 86 films in 48 hours. 2012 Edition saw more than 1500 participants producing 120 films. 2013 edition saw IFP going both on-ground and online with participants making films in their respective cities and not travelling to Ahmedabad for the same. Almost 320 films were made in 50 hours, with a participation of 4200+ people throughout the nation.IFP went international in 2014 with participation by 10600+ filmmakers from 11 countries and 168 cities. 610+ Films were made in 50 hours.In its fifth edition, IFP saw 15000+ participants, from 11 Country and 182 cities. 710+ Films were made in 50 hours.This year it is bigger and better.
The films are fairly personal this year, reflecting the theme 'Top Of The World'-. “We wanted people to explain the best moments of their lives, a moment when they felt complete,” says Bhatnagar.
I could see around 2500 young aspirants right from 11 am till late in the eveninggluing to chairs, that was the power of engagement in the event. It started with panel discussion,’How to Go viral’ and the panelists were Culture Machine, Comedy Factory and Screen Patti. For young short film makers it is important to understand that how quickly their work is seen by people on various web channels. Then Kanan Gill, stand-up comedian from Banglore tried to explain what are the things one should take care while making a film in the talk, ’How not to make a short film’.His tips were clear that the details should be relevant and proper research should be carried about story.
The most interesting discussion was ‘Anatomy Of A Web Series’, in this panel Sameer Saxena and Nidhi Bisht from TVF, Nikhil Taneja of Y Films and Anupama Chopra, noted Film critic. Who is a part of Film Companion YouTube channel. Success of TVF in creating a platform over web with strong fan following far ahead of any TV serial, its Permanent Roommates series was the second most-viewed long-form web series in the world at one time. It has opened doors for new possibilities for those who want to do something creative but do not want to be in the rigid TV format, Their success is closely followed by YFilms who have created web series like Bang, Baaja Baarat and ladies Room. Sameer Saxena gives credit of their unprecedented success to the stories. He said that writer should be given creative liberty and due recognition then good contents will come out. If the work is strong, brands will definitely join on board. Anupama said yardstick of good content is simple, it should entertain and appeal to the creator also. She also feel that web is a brutal medium also because there is an immediate reaction to your work. Panel discussions ‘Importance of Giving Offence’ by the members of East Indian Comedy, ‘All India Bakchod Vs Movies’ by noted film maker Vasan Bala and AIB, ‘Split Personality’ by Bombay Gaandu and Anisha Rikshawali were equally interesting.
This year the Platinum in professional category has gone to ‘Troll Life’ by Rahul Riji Nair. Platinum for amateur to ‘Acme’ by Kundan Sad and under mobile category to ‘Fiboncci’ to Alok Sinha.
No doubt IFP has provided a bigger platform to the aspiring movie makers but the job is very big, there is a need for more such innovative and proactive enthusiast to come and encourage and lead to short film makers.
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