Goethe-Institut, in association with film activist group Marupakkam, is hosting the 7th edition of Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival in the city. This year, the festival will present nearly 50 films from all over the world.
Festival director RP Amudhan says that the Documentary Fest was started with the purpose of strengthening the existing documentary communities in Tamil Nadu. “Watching a documentary is the second-most intellectually-engaging activity in the world, the first being reading a book. Documentaries are the best way to understand any subject, without having to compromise on your sensibilities,” says Amudhan, who founded the film activist group Marupakkam in 1994, in an attempt to organise workshops and film screenings.
The films will be screened under the following categories: Indian Films, International Films, Retrospective: Werner Herzog, Reena Mohan, Contemporary German Films, Filmmaker in Focus: Supriyo Sen, 9 Pen Cinemackal, Artists’ Cinema, Gandhi, Gandhiness and Cinema Vimarsha, and Films from Tamil Nadu. Speaking about the selection process, Amudhan says, “We approached experts who are into curation and prepared a list of films that are entertaining in their own way. To my knowledge, we haven’t had any Werner Herzog documentary under Retrospective lately.”
In addition, the festival also provides an opportunity to interact with prominent documentary filmmakers in India. “I would say that documentaries are more important than mainstream cinema. However, they aren’t as popular as mainstream films, and is meant for people who have the patience and liking for certain themes and subjects,” says Amudhan, whose films have been showcased at various festivals. The filmmaker, however, is quick to acknowledge that these films are less accessible to common people, “It’s true that documentaries are scarcely available online. However, the recent OTT platforms have given us hope. It’s much easier now and people are willing to watch them on the Internet.”
Notall documentaries are politically correct, and some of these films are made primarily to question the establishment. Which is why documentary filmmakers continue to operate within a small circle, says Amudhan. “Film festivals are a wonderful platform for us. While it’s true that the audience is very niche, the response at festivals is very satisfying.”
Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival will be held from February 6 to 10 at Goethe Institut, Rutland Gate 5th Street, Nungambakkam. The films screened at Goethe Institut are priced at ₹100 per day. For details, visit www.goethe.de/chennai, or call 28331314