Film festivals are not just about watching films and chit chatting and confabulating about them over one’s appreciation and dislikes among cinephiles that congregate at the annual cinema jamboree.

Film festivals, whose primary objective is to bring in, under a ubiquitous umbrella, showcasing the best in class contemporary cinemas that is making news winning accolades and appreciation across the global movie marquee, having caught the critics eyes and discerning cineastes picky palates, also function as vehicles to spread better cinema appreciation, understanding and aesthetic film going culture among the common diaspora, and the film buffs.

It is here that the academic exercises and sessions, such as the masterclass and in-conversation meet with subject experts, the directors on hard, et al, which run parallel and concurrent to the several film screenings at the key theatrical venues, becomes an important factor in adding to key takeaways that film festivals provide participating stakeholders at the annual calendar gathering.

Merely watching films after films in isolation, without goings into the whys and wherefores of what one sees and experiences, the trends and thematic concerns that are dwelt with by directors, would become a rather futile and monotonous exercise sans imbibing the intricacies of the social and political aspects behind them.

In keeping with this aspect of academic and the stated thematic objective of the film festival – ‘Young Filmmakers’ – “The Future is Now”, the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has lined up an impressive tableau of thematic talks, masterclasses and in-conversation sessions during the course of the nine-day long gala event. Each of these sessions or tutorials run to over an hour and bring in multifarious perspectives from the participations who chair and partake in the roundtables.

The first of these sees on November between 11 am and 12 noon an important thematic subject entitled Women Safety &Cinema. The session expects to examine the evolution of female characters, the depiction of violence against women, and the impact of films on societal attitudes towards women’s safety.

Furthermore, it also, will look at implementation of policies and practices that promote a safe and inclusive workspace environment for women. Moderated by noted scriptwriter and director Vani Tripathi Tikoo, it will see key industry representatives Imtiaz Ali, Suhasini Mani Rathnam, Kushboo Sundar and Bhumi Pednekar discussing and throwing light on where we are, what lies ahead and what next with respect to the theme at hand.

The same day, which has lined up several important panelled sessions include the most important 360° Cinema: Film Festival Directors’ Round Table between 12:30 – 1.30 pm. Given the key role and importance that film festival directors play in curating and bringing the best of meaningful contemporary cinemas to their respective film festivals will see the Film Festival Directors debate and discuss the vital role of film festivals play in the promotion of global cinema across diverse audiences of the world.

The roundtable will see eminent film festival directors in session with India’s Shekhar Kapur conversing with Toronto International Film Festival CEO &Chief Festival Programmer Cameron Bailey, Locarno International Film Festival Artist Director Giona A Nazzaro and Director of Film Department and Deputy to General Delegate of Cannes Film FestivalChristian Jeune providing their expert insights into the conduct and curation of film festivals and cinemas that light up their festivals.

Thereafter, in a specialised session on Character and Actor: The Power of Nuance, between 2:30-3:15 pm, will see eminent multilingual actress Nithya Menen will delve into how subtlety and nuance allow her to transit seamlessly into a character’s world.

Given that when it comes to acting, nuance is not only a powerful tool and matters most in bridging the actor’s self and the character he/she portrays, will have Ms Menen handhold audiences and interested and aspiring listeners how the power of nuance enables one to let go of his/her personal identity and inhabit the character’s emotional and psychological space/realm.

By effortless and methodically doing so with studied enactment, the performer transforms his/her performances into deeply relatable experiences, where smallest gestures reveal complex, layered stories, creating a deep and universal connection with the audiences.

In keeping with the similar aesthetics involved in one’s performance of a role bringing realism into the character’s portrayal on screen will see Manoj Bajpayee open up on the art of portraying the unspoken and unseen on screen in a session on Mastering The Unseen between 3.30-4.15 pm. Known for his subtle, powerful performances, Manoj Bajpayee will share insights into bringing depth and realism to every role, unfolding the shades that make characters unforgettable and a moving individual experience for the viewers.

With films being more than the sum of the nuanced narratives and actors that diligently and deftly bring on screens the same through their stylised and realistic portrayals, the session, especially which aspiring young talents wanting to make the curt into the entertainment business will look to, sees an insiders look at the collaborative process of bringing a story from page to screen, covering how a writer works with directors, actors, and production teams to translate a story into its final form in a session titled The Journey from Script to Screen: Writing for Film and Beyond being held between 4.30-5.30 pm.

Thereafter, the day series of masterclass and conversation sessions and roundtable closes with equally important subject Surviving Film Industry : The Hard Truth Nobody Tells You on from 5:45-6:30 pm.

Actress Rakul Preet Singh and actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani will reveal some hard truths, knowing which the path of an aspirant can be a little simpler, especially for the newcomers harbouring big dreams, given that the film industry comes across a maze shrouded in mystery with roadblocks at every turn to successfully negotiate and navigate through.

On Day 2, the session – Living Movies: Filmmaking and the Creative Life (12:30 – 1:30 pm) begins with filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra sharing his experiences, challenges, and the philosophy of how films not only reflect life but become a living entity of their own, inspiring generations.

There is more to filmmaking than visual narration. Given that movies moved from the earlier silent era to today’s talkies where sound becomes an important component, the session – Sound Design : The Aural Universe of cinematic Storytelling(2.30-4 pm) conducted by renowned sound designers Nakul Kamte and Eric Hoehn, will explore the power of sound design in shaping the emotional and narrative depth of films. The duo shares thecraft in building the aural dimension that completes the cinematic experience.

That films found an easy source of stories in literary works is given. How filmmakers have given vision to their literary inspirations will be dealt with in Transforming Literary Masterpieces into Engaging Films (4.30-6 pm) by director Mani Ratnam who will dwell on how adapting literary classics into films is an art requiring maintaining the essence of original work and balancing it with the demands of visual storytelling and transposing historical literary plots from page to screen, making them resonate with the contemporary film audience. In dialogue with him will be his counterpart Gautham Vasudev Menon.

Day 3 will see actress Kushboo Sundar in conversation with Tamil film director Sivakarthikeyan as he dwells on his sojourn From Small Screen to Big Dreams (11am-12 noon) chartering his successful career to stamp his mark on the Tamil film industry.

In the session (12.30 – 1.30 pm) Stories that Travel the panellists comprising Spanish producer Anna Saura, actress Tanishta Chatterjee, filmmaker Vani Tripathi Tikoo and British documentary filmmaker Lucy Walkerexploring the art of storytelling that travels beyond its origins, addressing the themes, techniques, and emotional core that allow films to reach and impact diverse audiences worldwide, with moderator Bobby Bedi in chair.

In the masterclass on the Art of Cinematography (2.30-4 pm), renowned Australian cinematographer John Seale share his invaluable insights describing the nitty-gritty of cinematography.

On November 24, with technology revolutionising the filmmaking process, the workshop on Laser for Post Production and Evolution to HDR (11am-12.30 pm)Anthon Muller, Global Director of Strategic Marketing at Barco Cinema, speaks about cutting-edge advancements in laser projection and the evolution to High Dynamic Range (HDR). He discourses on how these technologies enhance image quality, creating sharper and more immersive cinematic experiences, reshaping the future of post production workflows.

Conversation: Centenary Special –Celebrating the Life and Works of Raj Kapoor where his Grandson SuperStar Ranbir Kapoor in conversation with Film Maker Rahul Rawail from 2.30 Pm to 4.00Pm

Then you have writers debating on Culture As Context for Cinematic Storytelling (4.30-6pm) wherein they throw light on how cultural contexts shape stories told on screen elucidating on how cultural influences, traditions, and values are reflected in films and how they contribute to storytelling process.

Day 5 between 11am-12 noon begins with a session on Will Artificial Intelligence Alter Filmmaking Forever? Examining the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the future of filmmaking.

Subsequently, in similar vein, between 2-4 pm ace cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar highlights on how filmmakers can explore Integrating VFX with Cinematography explaining his own image-making process in the context of this VFX-heavy cinema, in a conversation with writer, filmmaker and actor Shankar Ramakrishnan. It will shed light on how cinematographic techniques have evolved, what the process entails today and the exciting possibilities for the future.

In his Masterclass on How to Succeed in New Hollywood (4:30-6 pm) Australian director Philip Noyce discusses the strategies and potential required to succeed in the world of filmmaking today explaining on the key skills and approaches filmmakers must acquire to navigate the rapidly changing industry and carve out successful careers.

Renowned Animation Director Chris Kirshbaumin the session on The Thrill of Victory (11am-12 noon) on day six, delves into world of sports as rich reference for understanding human emotion and behaviour in animation and harnessing this powerful resource to enhance animation skills and gain a fresh perspective on portraying emotion.

British filmmaker Stephen Woolley breaks down the filmmaking process into five quintessential stages of development, pre-production (including packaging, financing, and casting), production (prep and shooting), post-production, and release and marketing, in session on Who is a Film Producer? – Five Important Stages of Film Production (12:30 -1:30pm).

Last, but not the least, spotlighting on one of the most important and vital aspects of Exhibition of Feature Films in Cinema Theatres : The Question of Accessibility (2:30-4pm) which remains a critical issue in the evolving landscape of different modes of cinema viewing. From technological advancements to infrastructure needed for inclusive viewing, Qube Cinema Technologies co-founder Senthil Kumar in his Masterclass will get into the possibilities of how the industry can bridge gaps and ensure that the magic of cinema is available to all in cinema hall.

These slew of Masterclasses, panel discussions, and industry engagement will be held at the sprawling and renovated Kala Academy.

by

S VISWANATH is a veteran film critic who officiates as JURY at several National & International Film Festivals. He deputises as CHIEF CINEMA CURATOR/PROGRAMMER & CREATIVE ADVISOR for Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes). He also curates & advises on the selection of shorts & documentaries for Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF). Mr Viswanath is the author of “RANDOM REFLECTIONS: A Kaleidoscopic Musings on Kannada Cinema”.