The Best of Dharamshala International Film Festival: 10 to 12 September 2018

 

Turup (India)

(72 min; 2017; dvd; Hindi with English subtitles)

Direction: Ektara Collective

 

In the neighbourhood, chess is a popular pass time with roadside games bringing together men from different strata. Their pawns include morality and religion, causing social and political tensions to erupt when a tournament gets underway. But against this simmering backdrop, are other forces at play – a domestic worker with a secret hobby, a young woman in love, and a former journalist struggling with married life, each must make their moves with care

 

 

The Best of Dharamshala International Film Festival: 10 to 12 September 2018

One of India’s most alternative, off beat and eclectic film festivals held once a year in McLeodganj in Dharmshala, the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) was first started in 2012. Conceptualized by filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam of White Crane Films as a means of bringing quality contemporary, independent Indian and World Cinema to the culturally diverse location of Dharamshala. From 10 to 12 September 2018, we present a selection of the finest films presented at DIFF 2017

 

Out of this World (USA)

(75 min; 1954; dvd; English)

Director: David Wright

 

Out of this World is an updated version of an expedition film shot in 1949 by Lowell Thomas Sr. and Lowell Thomas Jr., whilst on a three-month trip to Lhasa. It provides a window on life in Tibet just months before the country was invaded by China and features footage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama aged just 15

 

People on the Run, People on the Move: Displacement, Security and Gender in South Asia

Panelists: Prof. Paula Banerjee (Vice Chancellor, Sanskrit University, Kolkata); Prof. Ranabir Samaddar (Director, Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group); and Dr. Sanjoy Hazarika (Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi) (tbc) 

 

Chair: Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath

 

(Collaboration: WISCOMP)

Kabir Sandhya  

Pt. Madhup Mudgal renders 'Kabir Bani' in his own unique style. The rendition includes his recently composed new compositions of Kabir Sahib  

 

Accompanists: Gurbhej Singh and Gurpreet Singh on  tabla; Manish Sharma on harmonium; Ganesh Singh  on manjira;  Sawani Mudgal on vocal support; Vivek Bhola and  Khushal Sharma on tanpura and vocal support

 

Poetry of Benevolence and Compassion

Discussion and launch of The Eight-eyed Lord of Kathmandu

By Abhay K., poet and diplomat (Bloomsbury India)

 

Discussant: Prof. Pushpesh Pant, former Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Chair: Dr. H.K.  Kaul, President, The Poetry Society, India

 

(Collaboration: The Poetry Society, India)

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

 

She Goes to War: Women Militants of India

By Rashmi Saksena (New Delhi: Speaking Tiger, 2018)

 

Discussants: Dr. Ajai Sahni, Executive Director, Institute of Conflict Management; Dr. Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative; and Ms Maya Mirchandani, Ashok University

 

Chair: Shri M. Maroof Raza, Defence Analyst, Consultant & Strategic Affairs Expert for Times Now Television

Odissi Recital

By Shashwati Garai Ghosh from Kolkata, disciple of Smt Sharmila Biswas under the Sanskriti–Madhobi Chatterji Memorial Fellowship 2018

 

(Collaboration: Sanskriti – Madhobi Chatterji Fellowship)

 

Unscripted Lives

Photo-stories by Shiju Basheer

 

Inauguration by Shri Ashok Vajpeyi on Wednesday, 5 September 2018 at 18:00

 

A collection of candid shots by the artist from his travels in across India and elsewhere

Speakers:Pankaj Mishra, Editor-in-Chief, Co-Founder and CEO, Factor Daily; Rama Lakshmi, The Print; Ashish Malhotra, India Correspondent, Deutsche Welle and freelance multimedia journalist; and Zakka Jacob, Deputy Executive Editor, CNN-News 18

 

 

 

Moderator: Richa Bansal, Director Communications, CPR 

 

 

 

During the past decade, with advances in digital technologies and rapid increase in the penetration of the internet, media has undergone a dramatic change in the manner in which news is gathered, disseminated and interpreted. There is an emphasis on speed, a premium on immediacy and virtually instant interpretation such as through Twitter. Traditional media, both print and electronic, are struggling to stay relevant and are themselves, adapting to and adopting the new technologies to create web-based news portals, mixing text and images to survive in this new environment, which is still in the throes of rapid change. The panel on “Unpacking Media – Digital & Traditional” will seek to explore and understand these changes and look to what the future may hold. We have outstanding journalists who have lived through this transition and those who have achieved success in the new media. They will share their rich and varied experiences with us

 

 

 

(Collaboration: Niti Aayog; and Centre for Policy Research)

THE IIC  DOUBLE BILL DANCE CONCERT 

 

Bharatanatyam Recital

By Geeta Shirisha from Bangalore, disciple of Guru Shri K.R.S. Prasanna, Shri Kiran Subramanyam and Smt Sandhya Kiran

 

Followed by

AT 19:00

Kathak Recital

By Varsha Dasgupta from Delhi, disciple of Gurus Abhimanyu Lal and Vidha Lal