Attend an indie film festival by a city-based cine community that seeks to bring a fine selection of regional and international films to audiences this weekend
A still from the Tamil documentary, Biodiversity and Beyond: The Story of Point Calimere by Sarthak Chawla. Pic courtesy/Indo-German Biodiversity Programme on Youtube
In an age where OTT platforms and cinema theatres are constantly vying for viewership, dealing with dwindling attention spans and changing storytelling formats, movie buffs might find a refreshing alternative in short film screenings that seek to bring the best of both worlds. The Mumbai Short and Documentary Film Festival, a two-day film festival conducted by city-based film community, FilmyBees Cine Club will bring a set of 33 short films, including regional movies, documentaries and international hits from 12 countries to audiences at a suburban venue this weekend.
A scene from Go in Peace by Jean Gaspa. Pic courtesy/London International Pan-African Festival on Youtube
Founded a year ago by cinephiles Aditya Raj and Gary Panjabi, the platform is a passion project aimed at celebrating independent cinema through screenings, festivals, and community conversations. “The idea has always been to celebrate the stories of independent filmmakers by giving them the space they deserve. Many powerful indie short films go unnoticed due to the lack of backing by mainstream platforms. While full length feature films have the privilege of theatres and OTT platforms, short films rarely get the spotlight they deserve. We believe short films can deliver impactful stories in a concise format and deserve to be experienced on the big screen,” Raj explains.
Carefully curated by a jury consisting of filmmakers Anne Thorens, Hu Li Huai and Farhaan Colabawalla among others, the curation has been modeled on the narrative strength, visual storytelling, and emotional resonance of the films. “The idea is to present a wide spectrum of stories and cinematic styles, ensuring an engaging experience for all types of attendees,” he adds.
(From left) Aditya Raj and Gary Panjabi
A quick browse of the list reveals regional films like the 2024 Marathi short film Loop Line by Renuka Shahane and the Hindi-Santali documentary Ladai Chhodab Nahi by Astha slotted alongside international selections like Jean Gaspa’s Go in Peace (French) and Mostafa Yeganeh’s Just a Fist (Persian). “On the second day of the festival, we have interactive sessions with some of the directors where people can learn more about the filmmaking process and the creative journey of each film. We are also planning to host a LGBTQiA+ themed film festival in June to celebrate pride month,” Raj summarises.
On: May 17; 1 pm to 4 pm, May 18; 4.30 pm to 10 pm
At: Veda Black Box, Bada Maidan Road, behind Ganpati Mandir, Aram Nagar Part 2, Versova, Andheri West
Log on to: @filmybeescineclub
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
