His Girl Friday (USA) | (91 min; 1940; b/w; English)

Director: Howard Hawks

With Cary Grant, Rosalind Russel, Ralph Bellamy

Recipient of the National Film Registry, National Film Preservation Board, USA 1983; OFTA Film Hall of Fame, Online Film & Television Association 2012

Considered a gem of Hollywood's golden age, Walter, a hard-boiled newspaper editor, discovers that his ex-wife and former employee, Hildy, is set to marry a wet-blanket insurance salesman. Walter, certain that this is the wrong move for a strong-willed and ambitious woman such as Hildy, decides to sabotage her marital plans by enticing her with one last story--the execution of a convicted murderer.
 

Odissi Dance Recital

By Vinod Kevin Bachan from Delhi, disciple of Guru Ranjana Gauhar

Video recording of the recital for IIC online programmes (55 min)

Screening of NHK documentary films on Japan’s history, literature, art, culture and heritage. Organised with the support of NHK World and Embassy of Japan, New Delhi

The Lights of Fukiya (49 min; 2019; English)

In 1977, the small mountain village of Fukiya was designated as an Important Preservation District in recognition of the vintage red-brown townhouses that lined its streets. Known in former days as a producer of a red pigment called "bengara," it became a popular tourist destination. But with an aging population, it has become more and more difficult to maintain the old houses and shops that make Fukiya so special. Faced with a crisis, 11 local residents with no business experience took a bold step to save their community for future generations. This program follows their progress as they create a corporation and set out to convert an old townhouse into a chic tourist guesthouse.

A festival of disability films organized in collaboration with We Care FilmFest and Brotherhood. Ten award-winning short documentaries from Burma/Japan, Lebanon, India, Iran, Italy and Trinidad & Tobago.

I am Special, So are you (India) | (2:18 min; English subtitles)

Director: Indraneel Goswami

Means to Live (Hingbagee Lambi/Manipur) | (4:18 min; English subtitles)

Director: L. Amarendra Sharma

Short fiction film on rights, rather than charity

The Blind of the Cathedral (Lebanon) | (18 min; 2016; Arabic with English subtitles)

Director: Nadine Asmar

Multiple award winner including Best Short Film, Short Film Competition of Mediterranean Countries, Alexandria International Film Festival 2016; Jury Prize, Arab Women Filmmakers Competition, Baghdad International Film Festival 2016; Winner – Festival Award for Best Directing, Seize the Film – Films on Disability 2017; among others

Fate led to Hala and Bachir first meeting in front of a cathedral. At first sight, they share nothing in common: she is a 15-year-old student, she is Muslim and she sees. Whereas Bachir is 27, he plays the lute, he is Christian and blind. Hala and Bachir will go through an adventure that will empower their innocent love. But a dark fate awaits them.

Traveller (Myanmar/Japan) | (24:06 min; 2014; English subtitles)

Directors: Nwaye Zar Che Soe, Mine Aung Lin Tun, Pyae Zaw Phyo

Recipient of the 3rd Prize for The Best International Documentary ASEAN Film Festival, Hanoi, Vietnam 2015; Jury Mention, We Care International Film Festival, India 2016; and Disability Justice Award, Superfest Disability Festival, Los Angeles, USA 2017

A young woman born with a disability searches for a career despite rampant discrimination. She travels to Japan where she finds strength in disability activism and community, and returns home with a newfound sense of pride.

The Dalai Lama: An Extraordinary Life

By Alexander Norman (HarperCollins, New Delhi: 2020)

 Discussants: Mr. Tenzin Geyche, former Secretary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama; Mr. Claude Arpi, writer and historian; and Mr. Alexander Norman, scholar of Tibetan history and author of the book

Chair: Shri Shivshankar Menon, former Foreign Secretary

Moderator: Shri Rajiv Mehrotra, author and filmmaker

This beautifully illustrated chronicle presents an in-depth, first hand narrative of the Dalai Lama’s life story and the Tibetan saga. From remembrances of those close to him, and a treasure trove of over 400 images of Tibet’s priceless visual heritage, it preserves a record of what it was like to create a nation from nothing, in exile, and how His Holiness rallied endlessly for his people. A rich blend of biography, history, and legacy, it captures a detailed account of the tumultuous events through which the Dalai Lama was forced to chart a path, leading to his emergence as an international figure. It illuminates as well his initiatives in the wider world to relieve suffering, overcome global challenges, and foster human flourishing through compassionate universal ethics, working hand in hand with science and ingenuity. 

Born to Perform is a four-year old and ongoing photography project shot in India and overseas. It features portraits of some of the world’s finest and most inspiring performing artists who happened to be physically challenged. When it comes to the issue of empowering the disabled, issues of education and livelihood rightfully occupy center stage. However, true inclusion can only happen when the differently abled also enjoy equal access to all cultural resources. This means not only being able to witness and enjoy artistic and cultural activities but also the opportunity to participate in the making of art and culture.

This photo project highlights this aspect by focusing on some of the world’s leading performing artists. Featured artists include Aliènette Coldfire (finalist, France Has Got Talent), India’s classical dance troupe We Are One, Australian crooner Tony Dee – the voice of We're The Superhumans campaign for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, and Drake Music Scotland’s Digital Orchestra ¬– the world's first disabled youth orchestra. The artists covered by this photo project so far are from Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand, U.K. and Malaysia. 
 
Vijay S. Jodha

Vijay is a writer, filmmaker and a self-taught photographer based in Gurgaon, India. He has produced five books and his projects have been showcased in galleries, museums and festivals worldwide. His projects have received over 70 honours in 24 countries including 17 best film/director awards. His films have been shown on 75 broadcast channels worldwide including on BBC, CNN and Discovery. He has worked extensively on disability issues in India and abroad. In 2018 he was invited to present one of his projects and address delegates from 195 countries at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on International Day of Persons with Disabilities. He can be reached at www.jodha.net and vijayjodha@gmail.com