DIFF 2018 closes on a high note
THE FIVE-DAY MEGA EVENT FEATURING CINEMA FROM ALL ACROSS THE WORLD SHOWCASED 194 FILMS FROM 56 COUNTRIES
Curtains came down on a week-long event of 7th Delhi International Film Festival, 2018. The festival which was organised from October 14-18, saw 194 films being showcased from 56 countries from across the globe. The film festival was organised by The Social Circle, in association with NDMC and with able support from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry at the NDMC Convention Centre, New Delhi.
Tourism and Culture Ministries, Film Bandhu – Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand were associate partners for the 7th edition in which, Tunisia was the opening special country partner; Indonesia the closing special country partner; Mexico, Australia, and Syria were country partners.
The festival opened with the Tunisian Film ‘Whispering Sands’ by noted director Naser Khamer, which also won the Best Film award. ‘Naval the Jewel’, a film in the Indian showcase won the Best actor award for Shweta Menon. Noted Singer Daler Mehndi was also honored with the ‘Minar E Dilli Award’.
Of the 600 films received from more than 75 countries, only 194 films from 56 countries were showcased and 40 films were selected in competition. Interesting films which drew the audiences were ‘Naval The Jewel’ – Shweta Menon and Adil Hussain, ‘Suicide Company Pvt Ltd’ – Swara Bhaskar, ‘Ferrous’ – Vijay Raaz and ‘Drishtii’ – Mughda Godse. Along with these, Kashmiri film ‘Kul Gov Garem’, ‘Roopesh Sikand’s Unfit’, ‘Bhumi’– made on child marriage, ‘To Let’ – film on search for rented home, ‘Too Late’ – a story of a girl’s struggles for sanitary napkins were also a part of the screenings at the festival among others.
The five countries partnering with the festival also had a special day each during the event, to showcase their films. Films from Tunisia and Indonesia were given special focus and on October 15 along with the Syrian films being screened. Likewise, Mexican films day was on October 16 and on 17, the Australian films day was celebrated at the NDMC Convention Centre.
Much in focus was the ‘7th DIFF Art Show’, which featured artworks from 10 artists including those by the famed Indonesian artist Chrisnanda Dilaksna. Also, the music video Khwaab Sunehre by USA based Indian Singer Alka Bhatnagar was awarded and the book ‘Tears of Kashmir’ by author Sarfaraz Raza was launched during the festival.
The festival was attended by Diplomats, Politicians, Filmmakers and Journalists from all over the world.