A two day documentary film screening focused solely on art and culture concluded today at the I & PR Auditorium. The Film Screening was organized by the Film and Cultural Society of North East India in collaboration with the Information & Public Relations Department, Government of Mizoram and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. The film screening was also supported with film contributions by Indian Documentary Producers’ Association; Danish Film Institute; Polish Institute, New Delhi and Goethe Institut, besides sponsorship by Dalmia Bharat Cement.

The opening film of the screening was Brush with Life, a documentary on Satish Gujral. The film looks at Satish Gujral’s life, the influences in his paintings, sculptures and architectural creations. Art from the Changing Artic, a film which metaphorically looks at the changing landscapes of the Arctic due to global warming from the perspectives of artists and sculptors; 52 Percent which traces the challenges faced by a young girl In Russia to be accepted to a ballet school and Thang Ta, a documentary on the age old martial art of Manipur were the films screened on the first day.

The second day’s screening started with Kinshasa Symphony, a documentary on the ordinary residents of Kinshasa who despite their impoverished surroundings and humble vocations come together to form an orchestra, setting aside their miseries and coming together to live their dream of playing the likes of Beethoven, Bach and Handel. Sat Sur, which traces the journey of the Gharana tradition in Indian Classical music and Olafur Eliasson : Space is Process which explores celebrated Olafur Eliasson’s experiments on space and how he modifies it to create art forms were also screened.

At the end of each screening, viewers interacted with local film makers and artists and also with invited experts via Skype. The interactions delved into various aspects of art and music and how creative expressions need to be supported and brought to mainstream documentary films.

Rahul Jain, Secretary, Film & Cultural Society of North East India said that the youth of North East India need to be exposed to such films which can open their eyes beyond commercial cinema. He said such films can inspire people from the region to think about making documentaries and short films which can capture the rich cultural, musical and artistic tapestry of the North East. At yesterday’s inaugural function of the screening, Jim K. Chozah, Director of the I & PR Department highlighted the activities being undertaken by the Department to promote films and visual arts in the state.

Some of the young college students who attended the screenings pointed that if Mizoram could have a theatre or a multiplex, they too could enjoy the thrills of watching movies on big screens like in other cities of the country. They said that it was interesting to see how varied and wide ranging the subjects of documentary films can be. Incidentally, Mizoram does not have a single theatre or a screening hall.

Members of the Mizoram Film Development Society, Mizoram Art Development Society, film enthusiasts and college students attended the two day screening.