The Fake Encounter of Chongkham Sanjit, Manipur

MURDER IN PLAIN SIGHT
In Manipur, death comes easy. In this damning sequence of photos, a local photographer captures the death of a young man, killed in a false encounter by the police in broad daylight, 500 metres from the state assembly. How can a State justify such a war against its own people, asks TERESA REHMAN, here:

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main42.asp?filename=Ne080809murder_in.asp

LIFE IN A SHADOW LAND
As Manipur comes to a boil in the aftermath of a fake encounter, SHOMA CHAUDHURY maps the fractured truths and complex wars raging in the state. Photographs by SHAILENDRA PANDEY

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main42.asp?filename=Ne150809coverstory.asp

MY BODY MY WEAPON
the short film on Irom Sharmila and her fast to death

Intensive Workshops in Filmmaking

LEARN FILMMAKING HANDS-ON
Script • Shoot • Edit • Learn to make your own films


INTENSIVE PROGRAMMES IN FILMMAKING
Starting mid-May and mid-September. Held in Delhi. Regn opens 23 March.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE NOT REQUIRED
WEEKEND OPTIONS FOR WORKING PEOPLE


THE PROGRAMMES ARE:

• The Basic Workshop
( 250+ hrs; full-time programme; mid-May to mid-July)
Introduces participants to the basics of directing, camera, sound and editing. Along with practical training, participants script, storyboard, shoot and edit simple films. Filmmakers guide and mentor the entire process.
Suitable for beginners, esp students.
Admissions closed; will reopen in March 2010.

• Intensive Programme in Documentary
(400+ hrs; largely weekends based; Sep 2009 - Feb 2010)
Helps participants to conceive, direct, shoot and edit short documentaries. Filmmakers mentor the whole process while participants research, script and shoot the docs; followed by editing and extensive post production. Includes practical exercises in shooting people and events; interview skills; sessions in lighting; and sessions on understanding documentaries.
Suitable for beginners. Admissions are currently OPEN.
Application Deadline: 15th August 2009

• Intensive Programme in Fiction
(400+ hrs; weekends based; Sep 2009 - Feb 2010)
Helps participants conceptualise, script, shoot and complete a short fiction film. In the process, they work on aspects of the director's craft - like scriptwriting; shot-taking; narrative construction; storyboarding; etc. Participants also acquire practical skills in camerawork, sound and light basics, NLE editing... Highlights include special sessions in scriptwriting. All the films are mentored by filmmakers at each stage.
Suitable for beginners. Admissions are currently OPEN.
Application Deadline 15th Aug 2009.


These programmes for anyone who'd like to make a film, but doesn't quite know how...

They are not only for students, but also for people testing the waters... for people who work full-time and need weekend options... for NGOs that have video shooting needs... for arts practitioners... and others who are simply passionate about films and filmmaking.

Age is not a restriction. We're open to anyone 17 and upwards.


CONDUCTED BY:
The programmes are principally conducted by Kavita Joshi, an independent filmmaker based in Delhi and an alumnus of FTII Pune. Other filmmakers also provide specialised inputs and training.

LOGISTICS
• Classes are held in South Delhi (near AIIMS)
• Group size is small, from 12 - 16 people.

THE CONTENTS, DURATION AND FEES OF EACH PROGRAMME ARE DIFFERENT.
For details, write to: impulsemail AT gmail DOT com
In the mail, let us know which programme interests you. Do include your
- full name and city
- occupation/organisation,
- a back-up email id and contact nos.
It helps a lot if you tell us a bit about yourself.

--

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

SEE WORKSHOP PHOTOS IN THE SIDEBAR

ALL PROGRAMMES AND WORKSHOPS SO FAR

VIEW FILMS BY KAVITA JOSHI IN THE SIDEBAR

Workshop film wins an award!

"Tarav...To Return"
wins the 2nd Prize at the Amity Engineering Short Film Festival

Made by participants of the Intensive Summer Workshop 2007, Tarav is a testimonial of a Kashmiri Pandit woman living in Delhi with her family, which had fled their village in the Kashmir valley when she was just a child. Tarav is an expression of her longing and of her dream to return to a home that now exists only in her memories.
[11 minutes / 2007 / DV]

The film has been researched, shot and directed by
Astik Sinha * Bhaskar Pant * Sudarshan Aravamudhan * Abhishek Chaudhry
as their final film in the workshop 2007

Other films made in the programmes include:

RANG (2004)
Shot at the dargah of hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Rang is a portrait of faith at a shrine that has long stood for India's syncretic traditions.

TASAVVUR (2004)
Steeped in memory and nostalgia, Tasavvur captures a woman's longing to return to the past of her childhood days.

A DAY IN GADODIA MARKET (2005)
A day in Delhi's busy "mirchi bazaar" - labourers... the rhythms of morning, noon, dusk and night... observations - in a busy spice market.

BASANTI (2006)
A cleaning-woman makes her own choices and lives her life as she sees fit; in the process questioning notions of status, class, education and gender.

EXILE (2006)
A poetic, very personal portait of the Tibetan community living in exile at Majnoon ka Tila, Delhi

UMANGEIN (2007)
At Kutumb, exposure, education and the 'space' to explore helps under-previleged children carve out a better future for themselves.

6 AM (2008)
A man wakes up and goes for a morning walk. Or does he? and is he still alive? A short fiction film.

ASHA (2008)
A little girl loves to dance - as many little girls do. A film on childhood.

GHEVRA (2008)
Somewhere on the margins of the big city, a man who leads a cushy life makes a momentary contact with a man who lives on the street. But are their lives "connected"? A film on urban living and "India Shining".

IN COMPANY OF FRIENDS (2008)
Friendicoes runs a popular animal shelter in Delhi. So how do they do it? A "must-watch" for all animal lovers.

MILLION MUTINIES(2008-09)
How does democracy work in a country of a billion? And what does "protest" involve? Slogans, dharnas, marches, fights... or an endless, difficult, demoralising wait on dusty footpaths, seeking justice that may never come?

THE VOID (2009)
A boy on the cusp of childhood and teenage copes with a troubled home life, frustrated parents, and the cold silences of a loveless home.

CHOCOLATE (2009)
What happens when a little boy is rewarded a chocolate for his honesty? A comic look at the tragic state of relations between parents and children.

RASIYA (2009)
Rasiya looks at 3 minutes from the life of a sex worker, her relationship with her "lovers", and her relationship with money.

THE FACTORY (2009)
A little girl learns to draw. Or does she? A critical look at our "education" system.

ART FART (2009)
How does an artist work when faced with the incomprehension of philistines. A comic look a the nature of relationship between art and money.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (2009)
A little boy makes a greeting card... his simple act raises an important question - what happens to old people in our society?

Tales from the Margins (short documentary): information

a film by Kavita Joshi
[Short Documentary; 23 min; colour; Manipuri with English subtitles; India; 2006]



Twelve women disrobe publicly on the streets of Manipur, in protest… For over 6 years a young woman has been on a fast-to-death demanding justice; she is kept under arrest and is forcibly nose-fed. Why are the women of Manipur using their bodies as their battlefield?

Manipur is a state in India’s North-East region, riven for decades by insurgency and violence. The Indian government has attempted to crush the insurgency through its military might; shielded by by undemocratic laws. Yet, little is heard about Manipur and its troubles across the nation’s landscape. This is a place that mainland India has marginalised; that the world has forgotten.

‘Tales from the Margins’ travels to this remote, strife-torn corner of India to document the extraordinary protests of Manipuri women for justice. And through their lives, to focus on a vast human tragedy.

FOR COPIES / ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: kj.impulse (at) gmail.com
TO DOWNLOAD A PRESS KIT: see side bar on the right

FESTIVALS AND AWARDS:
§ Best Documentary, YNW Film Festival 2008, Srilanka
§ Jury Prize, Docudays Human Rights Film Festival, Ukraine
§ Special Jury Mention, Festival Medias Nord Sud 2007 Geneva
§ Silver Remi, World Fest Houston 2007
§ Citation for Film on Human Rights, 19th UGC CEC awards
§ Technical Excellence in Audiowork, 19th UGC CEC awards

also:
Asian Hotshots 2008 Berlin
50th DOK Leipzig 2007
South Asian Visual Arts Collective, Toronto
22nd DOK.Fest Munich 2007
International Museum of Women, California
Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) 2008
L’Alternativa Barcelona 2007
Film South Asia 2007, Kathmandu
Docs DF 2007, Mexico
Mad Cat San Francisco 2007
DC Meets Delhi Washington DC
Open Frame 2007 Delhi (UNESCO Package)
VIBGYOR 2007, Thrissur
IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival 2007 Delhi; Ahmedabad; Pune
World Social Forum India 2006

KEY TEAM:
Director and Producer: Kavita Joshi ; Camera: Sunayana Singh ; Sound: Asheesh Pandya ; Editing: Mahadeb Shi.

The filmmakers thank IAWRT, NRK Norway, NIPCO Manipur, Jai Chandiram, Ima Gyaneshwari Devi and K. Sunil for their unstinting support.

READ ALL POSTS ABOUT TALES FROM THE MARGINS ON THIS BLOG, HERE

Best Documentary award for Tales from the Margins; and other screenings

Tales from the Margins wins the
Best Documentary award at the
YNW Film Festival 2008, Sri Lanka

The festival was held at Maharagama, Sri Lanka from 26th to 30th Dec 2008.
The jury was headed by noted filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan.


~RECENT SCREENINGS~

Madhya Pradesh Mahila Manch Presents
Mahila Matinee - A Festival of Films Made by Women

Tales From the Margins shows on
1st Feb 09 at about 3:15 PM
Venue: Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

more information on the festival is at
http://chandni.posterous.com/film-fest-in-bhopal-jan-31-feb

~*~

Jaipur Forum, of the International North South Media Forum,
celebrating the 60th Jubilee of the Indo-Swiss Friendship Treaty

Tales from the Margins is screening at
20th nov 2008 5 pm; at The Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaiput

more info:
http://www.nordsud.ch/english/programme.html

~*~

Amsterdam India Festival 2008: India Express
Voices from the Fringe films package

Tales from the Margins is showing at
16th nov Sunday 4 pm
at the De Balie, Amsterdam

more: http://nandinibedi.com/test3/?p=111

~*~

14th Kolkata Film Festival
The Short Film Centre presents

Tales from the Margins
on 13th Nov 2008 at 3 pm approx
at the Bangla Akademi Auditorium, Kolkata

------------------------------

Tales from the Margins awarded at Docudays Ukraine

Tales from the Margins recently won the Jury Prize at the Human Rights competition, Docudays Ukraine.

This is the 5th award that the film has won, after the Silver remi at WorldFest Houston 2007, the Special Jury Mention at the Medias Nord Sud Geneva 2007, and two awards by UGC CEC India.

EXCERPT FROM THE DOCUDAYS WEBSITE
head of the jury of Human Rights competition Alla Tytyunnyk
Prize of the jury of Human Rights competition
Film “Tales from the Margins”, director Kavita Joshi
“for not accepting violence”

original posting by Docudays Ukraine is here