Shyam Benegal’s unreleased short film Poovanam showcased at KC College’s International Film Festival | File Photo
Mumbai: Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal’s unreleased short film — titled Poovanam (Flower Garden) — was showcased on Friday at the second edition of the International Film Festival organised by the Department of Mass Media, Kishinchand Chellaram (KC) College, HSNC University. The film serves as a tourist guide highlighting various places of interest in the southern part of India.
The inaugural ceremony began with an introduction of the Film Festival by Prof. Dr. Shalini R Sinha, vice principal and head of department of Mass Media at KC college, which was followed by a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Tejashree Shanbhag, the principal of the college. While delivering the address Dr. Shanbhag said, “The motive behind the film festival is to celebrate the power of cinema and storytelling”.
The Chief Guest for the film festival, Prof. Dr Hemlata Bagla, Vice Chancellor of HSNC University, said, “We received over 200 entries this year, double the number from last year. For me it is not just 214 movies but a collection of knowledge and great ideas. It doesn’t matter whether you start from the beginning, what matters is you all start together for a purpose.”
The film festival was also graced by Jayati Ghosh, Public Relations and Marketing Head of National Museum of Indian Cinema. Ghosh congratulated the department and college for organising “a wonderful event”.
Among over 200 entries, there were seven films shortlisted for the film festival: Eriyum Panikaadu, The Final Touch, Aath Aana, Remark, Oh Butterfly, Dhachka and Thunai. Prominent personalities on the judges panel included renowned director Aijaz Khan and filmmaker-choreographer Swaroop Raj Medara.
There was also a special screening of Crushing, a short film by Maya Barreto and Ema Poposka created by Hong Kong high school students, and Maida by Lubna Yusuf, a film that has traveled to twenty International Film Festivals so far.
The International Film Festival will be followed by Blitzkrieg 2025, the annual inter-collegiate media festival of K.C. College, on February 1 and 2. With media education at its core, the festival will feature more than 20 events.
