Treat for film buffs at Cinema Satsang

For Malcolm Pope, 24, a self-proclaimed “film buff”, curating a session on low-budget films at the Cinema Satsang, a film festival to be held from February 21-25, is a big achievement.

For Malcolm Pope, 24, a self-proclaimed “film buff”, curating a session on low-budget films at the Cinema Satsang, a film festival to be held from February 21-25, is a big achievement.

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The festival, which will showcase 20 films including features, short films, and vintage documentaries, is being organised by the Indian Foundation for the Arts in collaboration with the Katha Centre for Film Studies (KCFS).

“I used the opportunity to choose the line-up for my section of films that define me,” said Pope, who along with five other film students, were selected for a course in film curation conducted by the Katha Centre for Film Studies. Each student picked the line-up of films for the six different sessions of the film festival.

“Easy availability of cameras and better accessibility to world cinema, have helped democratize the art of film making,” said Pope, who is currently studying film making at the Whistling Woods International Film School.

Pope’s favourite film is Katalin Varga, (Hungarian, 2009).

“The film was produced and directed by a school teacher, who chose to use the money inherited from his family, to make the film instead of building a home for himself,” explained Pope.

Mumbai-based sociology student, Aritra Bhattacharya has curated the section on Documentaries of Resistance.

“The film maker and camera are embedded in reality, which is an aspect I focused on while choosing the films,” said Bhattacharya.

The documentaries deal with issues pertaining to development-induced displacement from around the country and the world. Other sessions include the screenings of sports films, Tamil superstar Rajnikanth’s classics, as well as short films by students.

(The Cinema Satsang will be held from February 21-25 at the Alliance Francaise Auditorium, New Marine Lines, between 10 am and 8 pm. Entry is free based on first come first serve basis.)