IFFK helps recharge my battery: K R Manoj

The open forum session conducted as part of 19th IFFK witnessed a heated debate on the subject ‘Relevance of Film Festivals at the Digital age. ’ Though the participants have a varied view, their discussion ended up in a consensus on conducting  film festivals. 

K R Manoj, Director of Kanyaka Talkies, opined ‘festivals like IFFK help me recharge my battery and give courage to work more, on areas other than cinema as well’. Each filmmaker make films in his own ways and hence it won’t be apt to generalize the festival cinema. Digitalization does not mean that we need to get rid of the festival spaces. These spaces are inevitable for the existence and improvement of aesthetically influential cinema in the country, he said.

Cinema is not something to be enjoyed as a book said Sanal Kumar, director of Six Feet High (Oralpokkam). The real essence of cinema is not just watching it, but understanding, discussing and exchanging ideas about the cinema. The so called parallel cinemas are not meant for the learned audience alone, but these films help people unlearn what we have already learnt, he added.

Cinema by all means is a mass medium and the theatrical experience of watching a movie is matched by nothing else, said Sudhevan, director of Crime No: 89. ‘I’ve seen 90 percent of the films through DVD, but the real essence of watching a movie is when you watch it on the big screen', he said. 

Sajin Babu, director of Unto the Dusk (Asthamayam vare), had a relatively contradictory observation with reference to other speakers. Though, film festivals have been very influential to my career, now that the shift to digitalize films have made the film selection process much difficult for festivals. 

The film festivals are still relevant as they provide a common platform to watch, discuss and debate over films, observed Zahir’s director Sidharth Siva. It gives the opportunity to explore the realities of life beyond the boundaries, he said. 

Renowned film critic C S Venkiteswaran pointed that the concept of accessibility in the digital era is just an illusion and the economic divide have paved way for digital divide. Noted film critic V K Joseph was also present. The session was moderated by Cherry Jacob.