Second International film festival commences today
The three-day free-entry fete, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association, will screen films from the US, France, Spain, UK, Iran and Argentina apart from India, organisers told a press conference on Thursday.
A. Sreekar Prasad, multiple national award-winning film editor, will inaugurate the festival at 5.30 p.m. in the presence of Tourism Minister K. Lakshminarayanan, Nallam Sathish, president of Alliance Française, Laurent Jalicous, Director of Alliance Française, C. Patcheammalle, Secretary of the Puducherry Film Forum and prominent personalities from the realm of film and literature.
In addition to the shows, the event will also feature a masterclass by filmmaker Sivakumar Mohanan, who will be in conversation with Sreekar Prasad at noon on August 9, film reviews and discussions.
The Forum had launched the first film festival in 2024, building on its 12-year legacy of organising international documentary and short film festivals annually since 2011.
The inaugural will be followed by the screening of the Belgian-French film Tori and Lokita by Dardennes Brothers that had premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
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Time of India
8 hours ago
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Nagpur: Atop a gentle hill in Girad village in Wardha district, surrounded by lush greenery and revered equally by Hindu and Muslim devotees, stands the Sheikh Farid Dargah. A site known for harmony was used as a prominent plot in the Raj More-directed Marathi film, 'Khalid Ka Shivaji', which has now triggered statewide controversy over an alleged historical distortion. The otherwise quiet village, 76km off Nagpur, has suddenly catapulted into the spotlight after the film slated for release on August 8, was selected for Cannes Film Festival. The movie features several key scenes, including a zilla parishad school along with the dargah and its scenic landscape. While the village itself is not the source of protest, the film has inadvertently pulled Girad into the narrative. The film follows a young Muslim boy whose worldview is transformed after reading about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj . However, right-wing groups have accused the filmmaker of twisting facts for communal appeasement. Protesters say the film falsely claims 35% of Shivaji's army was Muslim and even depicts a mosque on Raigad Fort, which they say amounts to historical misrepresentation. Protests erupted after two individuals interrupted CM Devendra Fadnavis's speech during the recent Maharashtra Marathi Film Awards in Mumbai and demanded a ban on the film. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo According to a local gramsevak, a 30-member film crew arrived in Girad last year and conducted a five-day shoot at various spots around the dargah. The team secured proper permission from the sub-divisional officer (SDO) for filming. During the shoot, the crew reportedly stayed at Jamb, a village near Hinganghat, 25 km from the location. The film's visuals of the dargah, open fields, and school in the background now stand out in the trailer, which has gone viral amid heated political reactions. Amid mounting backlash, cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar has taken a firm stand. Talking to TOI, Shelar said, "Distortion of history is absolutely unacceptable. We've written to the Union ministry of information and broadcasting to re-examine the film and reconsider the certificate issued by Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)." He also questioned how the film passed review and added that an investigation will be conducted into how it was selected for Cannes Film Festival, raising concerns about possible procedural lapses. According to platforms like News Bharati, which is 'loosely' linked to Sangh Parivar, the film falsely claims 35% of Shivaji Majaraj's army was Muslim, and erroneously depicts a mosque on Raigad Fort, which is an assault on the Maratha warrior's legacy.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
How was ‘Khalid Ka Shivaji' sent to Cannes Film Festival, asks Maharashtra cultural minister Shelar
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The Hindu
13 hours ago
- The Hindu
Second International film festival commences today
The 2nd International Film Festival hosted by the Puducherry Film Forum showcasing a cross-section of world cinema gets under way at Alliance Francaise on Friday, August 8, 2025. The three-day free-entry fete, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association, will screen films from the US, France, Spain, UK, Iran and Argentina apart from India, organisers told a press conference on Thursday. A. Sreekar Prasad, multiple national award-winning film editor, will inaugurate the festival at 5.30 p.m. in the presence of Tourism Minister K. Lakshminarayanan, Nallam Sathish, president of Alliance Française, Laurent Jalicous, Director of Alliance Française, C. Patcheammalle, Secretary of the Puducherry Film Forum and prominent personalities from the realm of film and literature. In addition to the shows, the event will also feature a masterclass by filmmaker Sivakumar Mohanan, who will be in conversation with Sreekar Prasad at noon on August 9, film reviews and discussions. The Forum had launched the first film festival in 2024, building on its 12-year legacy of organising international documentary and short film festivals annually since 2011. The inaugural will be followed by the screening of the Belgian-French film Tori and Lokita by Dardennes Brothers that had premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.
