The curtains come down once again

11th OSIAN-Cinefan film festival has came to an end. This time around, several things about the festival were different. Preeja Aravind has the details.

11th OSIAN-Cinefan film festival has came to an end. This time around, several things about the festival were different.

HT Image

Foremost was the change of dates: OSIAN postponed the festival from sweltering July dates to the cool October ones. The next victim was the number of days - from a 10-day festival, it was just a week-long affair.

In its seven days, the festival was a damp squib for regular patrons. There were small gossips of mismanagement making rounds. With just 100 films for screening and more of conference with the filmmakers, technicians and cast of films, the festival had taken a decided turn towards 'education' from entertainment.

On the closing day, however, all things missing were made up for. Although it began more than an hour later than the designated time, the closing ceremony did see a good end. And as awards were announced, there was a clear winner in Khargosh, by Paresh Kamdar. The film won the Osian's-Cinefan Award for the Best Film along with Syrian film The Long Night. Khargosh also won the Audience Award.

The closing had its fair share of glamour too. The celebrity guests included Moushumi Chatterjee, Pronsenjit Chatterjee and Rahul Bose. The surprise factor was an electrifying performance by Euphoria, who began their impromptu concert with "Rok sako toh rok lo". The Indian rock band also mesmerized auditorium 1 at Siri Fort with their new song for Oxfam India called 'Payenge Aisa Ek Jahan'.

With the animated Israeli film 'Waltz With Bashir' by Ari Forlman being its closing film, the festival left an impact again this year.