Sharp Focus

“An unexpected visual treat, supported by mightier views”-that is what I can say about the inter-collegiate short film festival ‘First Cut’, which was conducted on June 7, 2012 under the auspices of the MCJ department of SIAS Media School, Vazhayoor. By 10.30 a.m., SIAS studio was filled with the directors of the proposed films, the respected faculty of MCJ department and a perfect blend of apt audience from various selected colleges.

A total of seven films were selected for screening under the category ‘Meet the director package’ and 12 films under package-two. As the name suggested, the meet the director package was really a nice platform for close interaction with the directors of the films included in the category. The Changing tracks of human mind All the seven films in package 1, which were also the highlights of the festival were succeeding in one or other way in picturising the dark corners of human rage and the changing tracks of human thoughts. The whole package proved one thing: let the theme be psychological or satirical; what matters is the way it is visualized using the limited resources available. As the panel discussion went beyond the time limits, only 6 films could be screened out of 12. But still the screened ones had the power to maintain the pace of the festival. It is a fact that short films are often neglected in Indian grounds as intellectual films or complex components. Many viewers (at least in Kerala) are ignorant of the numerous features of short films compared with feature films. Thus I feel that it is better to make a gist of what each film said.  

Peace Process (Mal, 20min) 

Direction: Harshad

It is said that a lie, when repeated ten or twenty times, becomes believed as a truth; it is the curse of entire man kind. This film proceeds through a peculiar kind of narration, where a cat is alleged of being slowly transformed into a tiger. Its master always succeeds in making things believe among others. The terrified locals and the master too slowly believe the allegation. The threat of the ‘tiger’ is being eliminated at the end. The film points into the inhuman attitude of imposing an image upon a man for what he/she is not actually.

Oru Cinemakkadha (Mal, 18min)

Direction: Arun George

Oru Cinemakkadha focuses upon a group of young boys, who involve in a joint venture of making a film using a mobile camera. The film satirizes the modern concept of film as a single way of securing money and fame.  

Minukkam (Mal, 12min)

Direction: Umar Naseef

The film progresses through the dreams, hopes and wishes of a primary standard student, who wish to find himself as a star by presenting the fire fly which he caught, infront of his classmates. The simplicity in theme and presentation makes the title Minukkam more apt. Resolve (Mal, 20min) Direction: Rahees Thrithala The film, which visualizes a boy being haunted by a dog, depicts tha harsh reality that we never know that we have the right weapon to resolve every problem that we face in our life; we realize it only at the moment when we come across what we call the ‘last resort’.  

In autumn (Mal, 12min)

Direction: Prasad O.P

In autumn projects a real life incident. The film, which develops through the tragic situation of a college girl, being impregnated by her uncle, draws up the increased number of child abuses in the society.  

Wagon No: MLV 1711 (1921) (Mal, 20min)

Direction: Haseem Chembra

The film portrays in such a touching way, the painful situation of a young man, who sets out a journey in search of one of his ancestor’s graveyard, who was killed in one of the brutal incidents of Indian history, known as Wagon Tragedy. In the film, we can see the irresponsible nature of government authorities also.

Drop (Mal, 11min) 

Direction: Sumesh Sivan

Putting it simply, we can say that this film addresses one of the important and relevant questions of present times-if there would be another world war, would it be for water?

Love (Tamil, 4min)

Direction: Sasi Kumar

The film Love reminds us of our duty as social individuals to care for those who are suffering from disease like AIDS, cancer etc. It also tells us that such people are not burdens for the society, but they too have the right to live here.

Meals Ready (Mal, 12min)

Direction: Niduna Dinesh

What if there is a situation to stand under boiling sun from morning to evening to get a packet of food? This short film answers the question through the life of an old man, who is forced to recommend the maximum number of people to the restaurant, standing in the steaming mood of day, to get a bit of food for him and his wife at the evening.

Anju roopa (Tamil, 8min)

Direction: S.V. Arun Kumar

Anju roopa depicts the life of a village boy, who lives with a lot of small wishes even when he knows that his mother is struggling with life’s big obstacles to earn bread. The boy’s wish to buy that single green balloon reminds us of the greenery of childhood and its never-ending innocent wishes.

Race plate (Hindi, 10min)

Direction: Rohit Roy

The film picturises the meaningless discrimination that we create in our minds in the name of caste and creed.

Mallus (Mal, 10min)

Direction: M.C. Jithin

Through a comedy picturisation of a some moments in a KSRTC bus, centered on the views of a young man (who is a traveller), the film satirizes the ‘malayali attitude’ of blaming others without doing his own duties.

The last smoke (Eng, 3min)

Direction: Bahaish Kapoor

This short film depicts the foolish sacrifice of life for love.

The judicious organization of the programme gave way to understand the films more deeply. The inspiring words of the directors shows the upcoming world of young, talented directors which would be a high yielding field of good films.

The panel discussion which was held on ‘Short film: cultural resistance; challenges and potentials’ paved way for free flow of ideas and views regarding the making of a short film and the challenges it faces. When the directors shared their experiences they had amidst the film production, it became helpful to promote the social relevance of taking a short film. Making a general assessment of the discussion, it was clear that capital is the main supporting factor in short film.

The ignorance of malayalees about the power of short films and the need for their encouragement in the modern society were the issues under sharp focus through out the festival.

Initiatives always open the doors of ever ending possibilities and innovations. So hoping for more and more initiatives like this from SIAS, with a vibrant positive energy.

THINK LOGICALY...PLAN PRACTICAL...& BE INNOVATIVE!