Taapsee Pannu to inaugurate women artisans’ fest & film forum

LUCKNOW : FICCI FLO LucknowKanpur chapter is organising a three-day Indian Women Artisans Awadh Festival and Film Forum in the state capital from November 14.

The mega programme will be organised at the Indira Gandhi Pratisthan (IGP) for media professionals, cinema lovers and artisans. Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu will inaugurate the event. Outstanding women achievers from various fields will also be felicitated at the event.

Rita Bahuguna Joshi, cabinet minister for women and child welfare in the state government, also launched a mobile app for the FLO Film Forum. “The state government will extend all possible support to FICCI FLO in this event,” Bahuguna told newsmen on Monday.

At the FLO (FICCI Ladies Organisation) film forum, professionals from the international and Indian film Industry will give important lessons on various aspects of film making to women through workshops and interactive film screening sessions.

Experts from the film industry, including Kamlesh Pandey, Kireet Khurana and Preeti Shahani will be present to give these lessons. “Representatives of the US-India Business Council, Canadian-India Business Council and the Uttar Pradesh government will also be present at the event,” said Renuka Tandon, chairperson, FICCI FLO, Lucknow-Kanpur chapter.

“The objective of the forum is to discuss funding models and innovative communication strategies to initiate dialogue for effective social change and gender sensitivity through film and media,” added Tandon.

“The FLO chapter will generate a database of trained girls and women in different aspects of filmmaking. This will be shared and promoted among domestic and international filmmakers planning to shoot in the state,” she pointed out.

The other major event at the programme will be the International Women Artisans Awadh Festival. It will be a fashion and lifestyle exhibition to promote arts and crafts of India and support women artisans.

“We have roped in artisans from Canada, Mongolia and Afghanistan to encourage business opportunities and dialogue between Indian artisans and their foreign counterparts,” said Tandon.

Union textile minister Smriti Irani is likely to be special guest at the event. National president of the FLO Pinky Reddy will be chief guest.