Film festival aims conserve Goa's traditions, art form

PANAJI: Stressing on the need to "scientifically document" Goa's traditional art forms, a Goa based organisation has decided to organise a documentary film festival on January 29 at the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) complex. The film festival aims to encourage students and people to prepare short documentary films, which can be used to record and preserve Goa's natural and cultural richness, said Bimalendu Dey, the president of Ganga Zuari Academy.
Dey said that Goa’s legacy is threatened due to social neglect, wilful ignorance, rapid urbanization, unplanned development and blatant commercialization.
“The need is to scientifically document all traditional art forms to avoid distorted versions getting recognition as traditional art. Hence, there is a necessity to protect and preserve these high-value inheritances. Such an urge could only come when people love these art forms, and to love one has to understand the heritage,” said Dey.
The organisation wants people to create documentaries on Goan buildings, monuments, books, and works of art, and artefacts as well as folklore, traditions, language, knowledge, cuisine, and practical skills passed down over generations.
A cyclothon will also be held on January 22 from Miramar to Goa Medical College to create awareness about heritage conservation.