By Didhiti Ghosh, Bureau Chief (Kolkata), IOP

The initiative is a joint collaboration between ICCR (Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India) and the Forum for Film Studies and Allied Arts (FFSAA).

Kolkata, 16 Jan 2020: The International Film Festival - 10th Festival of Five Continents – was held from 12 to 16 January 2020 at Satyajit Ray Auditorium of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Kolkata (ICCR). The initiative is a joint collaboration between ICCR (Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India) and the Forum for Film Studies and Allied Arts (FFSAA).

Barun Ray, Programme Director & Coordinator of the present Film Fest said, “The inaugural film is Kamion (The Truck), produced by Mr Behrooz Chahel from Iran. Seeing the enthusiastic response last year, we gave a chase to the present event.” Kolkatans are the first to see the film, as it has not yet been released commercially.

The FFSAA, headed by eminent Film Director Goutam Ghose has organised several film festivals in recent times featuring the delights of several cultures like Greek, German and short fiction film festivals.

Dr Md Ali Rabbani, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of Iran mentioned that Iranian cinema has been greatly influenced by the prevailing political situation of the country, while sharing focus to familial life, just like in India.

The film genres range from Drama, Thrillers, Science Fiction, Romance & Comedy presenting a panoramic sweep that will entertain, engage, stimulate and inspire the audience, in the words of Mr Ray.

Mr Carlos H Múscari, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of Argentina was also present at the inauguration as Special Invitee. Mr Múscari mentioned that the past year more than 20 Indian cities screened Argentine cinema, and the present year the country is also participating at the International Kolkata Book Fair 2020 to extend the venture along literary lines.

Some of the participating countries in the present film fest are Spanish-speaking regions like Argentina, Spain, Chile, Mexico and a host of others including Vietnam, Iran, Serbia, Denmark, France, Greece, Australia, Canada & Germany.

Commenting on the genesis of the present festival, Rabin Banerjee, General Secretary of FFSAA said that the fest’s maiden year was 2010 when it was hosted as part of the Kolkata International Film Festival. “In 2012, it became independent and for the last 6 years, the events are held in collaboration with the ICCR.”

The FFSAA was formed in 2008 to make a concerted effort to redefine, disseminate and nurture the film society ethos and allied arts. The forum also collaborates with the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI), Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata in its venture.

Some of the films screened include Júlia Ist (2017, Spain) directed by Elena Martin; Tita, a Life of Tango (2017, Argentina) by Teresa Costantini; Oray (2018, Germany) by Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay; Curiosa (2019, France) directed by Lou Jenet; Pure Blood (2017, Mexico) by Noé Santillán-López & Burning (2018, South Korea) directed by Lee Chang-Dong.

Ms Sohini Dasgupta, Director of the film Drama Queen (2019, India) inaugurated the Festival.

Image Courtesy: Embassy of Argentina, New Delhi

[DIDHITI GHOSH is an India Columnist at La Agencia Mundial de Prensa, USA, Bureau Chief of Indian Observer Post based in Kolkata & Conference Interpreter (Spanish-English-Bengali). E-mail: didhiti.24@gmail.com | LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/2H6gNAv | Twitter: https://twitter.com/DidhitiG].

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