A weekend festival of short indie films
Instant messaging and quick-dry nail paint. On-the-go meals and lightening-fast deals. You’re living life in the fast lane and want everything else to match your zip-zap-zoom. Which is why the Trendy Critic thought you’d love this one.
Two Plus Productions, the same guys who run the Mocha Film Club, promise to liven up this weekend for movie buffs. They’ve organised a festival of short films by independent filmmakers. With no film running longer than half-an-hour (the shortest is just a two-minuter, while most average about 11 minutes), you’ll be exposed to a wide variety of very young, very fresh thoughts, subjects and ideas in less time than your average visit to the salon.
Called Shamiana because it’s an open-air venue, the fest kicks off with talented director Ashima Narain’s documentary ‘In the Pink’ on flamingos visiting Mumbai. The finale is her film on the pitiful plight of dancing bears entitled ‘The Last Dance’. Between these two bookends for animal lovers, you’ll find all kinds of stories making you laugh, cry and maybe even cuss.
They make the cut. Just like you always do.
Shamiana Short Film Festival, on the terrace of Oceana building, next to Hotel Marine Plaza, Marine Drive. Telephone: 9867431000. Dates: April 27, 28 and 29. Time: 7pm onwards. Tickets: Rs. 50 per day.
Schedule Day 1:
In the Pink, 24 mins, director Ashima Narain: Why flamingos fly to Mumbai.
Bhaichaara, 2 mins, director Karan Anshuman: Hilarious silent tale of two estranged brothers who meet at a café.
Just One Rupee, 11 mins, director Jayesh Rane: Man fighting a divorce case can’t fins a rupee coin to make a call to his lawyer.
Paisa, 11 mins, director Sourabh Srivastav: An insane man looks for a square meal.
Love Birds, 30 mins, director Sameer Surve: A flamboyant love story.
5 & a ½, 21 mins, director Sandeep Modi: Five-and-a-half stories but just one ending.
Day 2:
Reflections, 8 mins, director Bijoy Nambiar: Won Best Cinematography at the New York Film Festival. Drifters ponder over what’s happening in their lives.
Talk to Me, 15 mins, director Manoj Gupt: A man who’s desperate to get someone to talk to him.
Pal do Pal, 13 mins, director Rabindra N Choubey: A sensitive
love story.
Rehguzar, 4 mins, director Subhadra: Touching tale about the
relationship between an old beggar and a street singer.
Dare to Answer, 4 mins, director Tariq Mohd: A school girl who dares to speak her mind.
Turtles in a Soup, 13 mins, director Kalpana Subramaniyam: Focus on the thriving illegal trade of freshwater turtles in India.
Bhookh, 17 mins, director Dedipya Bhanu: A poignant tale
about a father and his children driven to despair by hunger and poverty.
Home Delivery, 14 mins, director Suryaprakash Lokkoju: Horror film about a guy and a pizza delivery girl.
Day 3:
Naxalism, 21 mins, director Taher Mithaiwala: About the growth of the Naxal movement.
Bilori, 12 mins, director Sandeep Modi: A must-see, cute and touching film about gender discrimination in rural India.
Mochi, 11 mins, director Praveen Bhamre: Story of a shoemaker’s young son who wants the sky.
Aids, 3 mins, director Rutwij Vaidya: Beautifully animated take on a social issue.
The Last Dance, 11 mins, director Ashima Narain: Premiere of the film that documents the crime and cruelty committed upon the sloth bear across India.
