News Analysis India

Tag: IFFI

  • Hollywood filmmaker Michael Douglas to receive Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award this year

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Renowned Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas will be honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award this year at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) the held in Goa.

     The announcement was made by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

    This year’s film festival will be graced by the celebrated actor, accompanied by his spouse, eminent actress and philanthropist Catherine Zeta Jones and their son and actor, Dylan Douglas. 

    “I’m delighted to announce that Michael Douglas, the distinguished Hollywood Actor and Producer, will be honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Excellence in Film Lifetime Award at the 54th International Film Festival Goa. His deep love for our country, India, is well known, and we look forward to welcome him, Catherine Zeta Jones and their son, to the most prominent Film Festival in South Asia to showcase our rich cinematic culture and unique traditions at #IFFI54!! A heartfelt welcome to Bharat and @IFFIGoa,” Thakur posted on the micro blogging site.

    I’m delighted to announce that Michael Douglas, the distinguished Hollywood Actor and Producer, will be honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Excellence in Film Lifetime Award at the 54th International Film Festival Goa.His deep love for our country, India, is well known,…
    — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) October 13, 2023
    Indian Film producer and founder of Percept Ltd. and the Sunburn music festival Shailendra Singh, who is celebrating his 25 years in the Indian Film Industry will also be in attendance.

    The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in 1999, is presented to individuals whose exceptional contributions have significantly enriched and elevated the world of cinema. Douglas, a luminary in the film industry, has captivated audiences globally with his unparalleled talent and commitment to his craft, said the statement of the ministry bof information and broadcasting issued on Friday.

    Michael Douglas has enjoyed a remarkable career, earning two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award. His roles in cinematic masterpieces such as “Wall Street (1987)”, “Basic Instinct (1992)”, “Falling Down (1993)”, “The American President (1995)”, “Traffic (2000)” and “Behind the Candelabra (2013)” have left an indelible imprint on cinema history. He has also produced a number of critically acclaimed films, such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)”, “The China Syndrome (1979)”, and “The Game (1999)”. In 1998, he was appointed the UN Messenger of Peace for his commitment to disarmament issues, including nuclear non-proliferation and halting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Notably, he was awarded the honorary Palm D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, a testament to his enduring influence on the global film fraternity.

    Catherine Zeta Jones, an accomplished actress in her own right, has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to cinema and her commitment to philanthropy. Her remarkable career includes unforgettable performances in films like “Traffic (200)”, “Chicago (2002)”, and “The Mask of Zorro (1998)”, which have earned her critical acclaim and numerous accolades. She is also the recipient of an Academy Award and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award.

    In a noteworthy event earlier this year, Michael Douglas was honored at the India Pavilion in Marche Du Film, during the Cannes Film Festival, underscoring his global impact on the film industry.

    As part of the 54th IFFI, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones will also be participating in a special In Conversation session hosted by the National Award-winning film producer, Shailendra Singh. The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award has previously honored luminaries such as Bernardo Bertolucci (IFFI 30), Carlos Saura (IFFI 53), Martin Scorsese (IFFI 52), Dilip Kumar (IFFI 38), Krzysztof Zanussi (IFFI 43), and Wong Kar-wai (IFFI 45), among other major film personalities. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: Renowned Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas will be honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award this year at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) the held in Goa.

     The announcement was made by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

    This year’s film festival will be graced by the celebrated actor, accompanied by his spouse, eminent actress and philanthropist Catherine Zeta Jones and their son and actor, Dylan Douglas. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “I’m delighted to announce that Michael Douglas, the distinguished Hollywood Actor and Producer, will be honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Excellence in Film Lifetime Award at the 54th International Film Festival Goa. His deep love for our country, India, is well known, and we look forward to welcome him, Catherine Zeta Jones and their son, to the most prominent Film Festival in South Asia to showcase our rich cinematic culture and unique traditions at #IFFI54!! A heartfelt welcome to Bharat and @IFFIGoa,” Thakur posted on the micro blogging site.

    I’m delighted to announce that Michael Douglas, the distinguished Hollywood Actor and Producer, will be honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Excellence in Film Lifetime Award at the 54th International Film Festival Goa.
    His deep love for our country, India, is well known,…
    — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) October 13, 2023
    Indian Film producer and founder of Percept Ltd. and the Sunburn music festival Shailendra Singh, who is celebrating his 25 years in the Indian Film Industry will also be in attendance.

    The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in 1999, is presented to individuals whose exceptional contributions have significantly enriched and elevated the world of cinema. Douglas, a luminary in the film industry, has captivated audiences globally with his unparalleled talent and commitment to his craft, said the statement of the ministry bof information and broadcasting issued on Friday.

    Michael Douglas has enjoyed a remarkable career, earning two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award. His roles in cinematic masterpieces such as “Wall Street (1987)”, “Basic Instinct (1992)”, “Falling Down (1993)”, “The American President (1995)”, “Traffic (2000)” and “Behind the Candelabra (2013)” have left an indelible imprint on cinema history. He has also produced a number of critically acclaimed films, such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)”, “The China Syndrome (1979)”, and “The Game (1999)”. In 1998, he was appointed the UN Messenger of Peace for his commitment to disarmament issues, including nuclear non-proliferation and halting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Notably, he was awarded the honorary Palm D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, a testament to his enduring influence on the global film fraternity.

    Catherine Zeta Jones, an accomplished actress in her own right, has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to cinema and her commitment to philanthropy. Her remarkable career includes unforgettable performances in films like “Traffic (200)”, “Chicago (2002)”, and “The Mask of Zorro (1998)”, which have earned her critical acclaim and numerous accolades. She is also the recipient of an Academy Award and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award.

    In a noteworthy event earlier this year, Michael Douglas was honored at the India Pavilion in Marche Du Film, during the Cannes Film Festival, underscoring his global impact on the film industry.

    As part of the 54th IFFI, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones will also be participating in a special In Conversation session hosted by the National Award-winning film producer, Shailendra Singh. 
    The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award has previously honored luminaries such as Bernardo Bertolucci (IFFI 30), Carlos Saura (IFFI 53), Martin Scorsese (IFFI 52), Dilip Kumar (IFFI 38), Krzysztof Zanussi (IFFI 43), and Wong Kar-wai (IFFI 45), among other major film personalities. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Happy to be on my way to airport now: Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid

    By Express News Service

    Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, whose comments against “The Kashmir Files” has stirred up a hornet’s nest said in an interview that he was “apprehensive” before making the remarks and it was “not easy.”

    He had called the Vivek Agnihotri directorial a “vulgar, propaganda film”, unfit to be a part of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

    After the remarks, the film’s cast, including Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar and Anupam Kher slammed Nadav. He was also criticised by Israel’s Ambassador to India.

    In an interview with Israeli outlet Ynet, Nadav said he was struck by how blatantly the film adheres to the government line on Kashmir. Asked what went through his mind before he made his political statement, and if he knew that his words would cause a storm, he said, “I knew that this was an event that is terribly connected to the country, and everyone stands there and praises the government. It is not an easy position, because you are a guest, I am the president of the jury here, you are treated very nicely. And then you come and attack the festival. There was apprehension, and there was discomfort. I didn’t know what the dimensions would be, so I did it with some apprehension. Yes, I spent the day apprehensive. Let’s put it this way: I’m happy to be on my way to the airport now.”

    Nadav also said that it won’t come as a surprise if a film like “The Kashmir Files” is made in Israel in the next couple of years.

    Nadav said that people came up to him to thank him for what he said in the speech. “It was a hall with thousands of people, and everyone was ecstatic to see the local stars and cheer for the government. In countries that are increasingly losing the ability to speak your mind or speak the truth, someone needs to speak up. When I saw this movie, I couldn’t help but imagine its Israeli equivalent, which doesn’t exist but could definitely exist. So I felt I had to, because I come from a place that is itself not reformed and is itself on the way to these places,” he said.

    “The Kashmir Files”, despite receiving poor reviews, was lauded by the ruling party and was one of the biggest hits of 2022.

    (This article originally appeared on CinemaExpress.com)

    Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, whose comments against “The Kashmir Files” has stirred up a hornet’s nest said in an interview that he was “apprehensive” before making the remarks and it was “not easy.”

    He had called the Vivek Agnihotri directorial a “vulgar, propaganda film”, unfit to be a part of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

    After the remarks, the film’s cast, including Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar and Anupam Kher slammed Nadav. He was also criticised by Israel’s Ambassador to India.

    In an interview with Israeli outlet Ynet, Nadav said he was struck by how blatantly the film adheres to the government line on Kashmir. Asked what went through his mind before he made his political statement, and if he knew that his words would cause a storm, he said, “I knew that this was an event that is terribly connected to the country, and everyone stands there and praises the government. It is not an easy position, because you are a guest, I am the president of the jury here, you are treated very nicely. And then you come and attack the festival. There was apprehension, and there was discomfort. I didn’t know what the dimensions would be, so I did it with some apprehension. Yes, I spent the day apprehensive. Let’s put it this way: I’m happy to be on my way to the airport now.”

    Nadav also said that it won’t come as a surprise if a film like “The Kashmir Files” is made in Israel in the next couple of years.

    Nadav said that people came up to him to thank him for what he said in the speech. “It was a hall with thousands of people, and everyone was ecstatic to see the local stars and cheer for the government. In countries that are increasingly losing the ability to speak your mind or speak the truth, someone needs to speak up. When I saw this movie, I couldn’t help but imagine its Israeli equivalent, which doesn’t exist but could definitely exist. So I felt I had to, because I come from a place that is itself not reformed and is itself on the way to these places,” he said.

    “The Kashmir Files”, despite receiving poor reviews, was lauded by the ruling party and was one of the biggest hits of 2022.

    (This article originally appeared on CinemaExpress.com)

  • Who is the Israeli filmmaker who criticized ‘The Kashmir Files’ at IFFI?

    By Online Desk

    During his concluding remarks at the International Film Festival held in Goa, the Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid sparked a controversy. He called the Indian film, ‘The Kashmir Files’ directed by Vivek Agnihotri “vulgar” and “propaganda”. He further said the film was “inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival”.

    Nadav Lapid,  a recipient of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, is a writer and filmmaker born in Israel. He is known for his films Synonyms (2019), The Kindergarten Teacher (2014) and Policeman (2011). He has been a member of the Golden Leopard jury at the 2015 Locarno Film Festival, a member of the International Critics’ Week jury at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and a member of the ‘Official Competition’ jury at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival in 2021.

    Nadav is known for his love-hate relationship with his homeland, which came out in his competition entry, Ahed’s Knee, at the Cannes Film Festival last year. He was identified as a Palestine sympathizer, speaking against his own homeland Israel for he was among a group of 250 Israeli filmmakers that signed an open letter to protest against the launch of the Shomron Film Fund. The group felt the fund held only one goal, which was to invite Israeli filmmakers to “actively participate in whitewashing the Occupation in exchange for financial support and prizes”.

    In one of the interviews for his film ‘Synonyms’, he called the collective soul of Israel a “sick soul”. He said, “The film talks about the collective Israeli soul, and the Israeli collective soul is a sick soul. Something in the deepest essence of Israeli existence is false – it is rotten. It’s not just Benjamin Netanyahu – it’s not special to Israel. But, at the same time, I think this Israeli sickness or nature is characterised by young Israeli men who are muscular, smiling, who don’t raise any questions and don’t have any doubts. They are extremely proud of being Israeli. They have a total dichotomist vision of existence: Us versus all the others.”

    ALSO READ | ‘You should be ashamed’: Envoy to Israeli filmmaker on ‘Kashmir Files’ remark row

    Despite holding a critical view for his own country, Nadav Lapid was invited to IFFI as the Chief Jury. However, his take on Kashmir Files was responded with mixed opinions from the rest of the jury.

    #Breaking: #IFFI Jury says they were “disturbed and shocked” to see #NationalFilmAward winning #KashmirFiles, “a propoganda, vulgar movie” in the competition section of a prestigious festival— organised by the Govt of India.

    During his concluding remarks at the International Film Festival held in Goa, the Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid sparked a controversy. He called the Indian film, ‘The Kashmir Files’ directed by Vivek Agnihotri “vulgar” and “propaganda”. He further said the film was “inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival”.

    Nadav Lapid,  a recipient of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, is a writer and filmmaker born in Israel. He is known for his films Synonyms (2019), The Kindergarten Teacher (2014) and Policeman (2011). He has been a member of the Golden Leopard jury at the 2015 Locarno Film Festival, a member of the International Critics’ Week jury at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, and a member of the ‘Official Competition’ jury at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival in 2021.

    Nadav is known for his love-hate relationship with his homeland, which came out in his competition entry, Ahed’s Knee, at the Cannes Film Festival last year. He was identified as a Palestine sympathizer, speaking against his own homeland Israel for he was among a group of 250 Israeli filmmakers that signed an open letter to protest against the launch of the Shomron Film Fund. The group felt the fund held only one goal, which was to invite Israeli filmmakers to “actively participate in whitewashing the Occupation in exchange for financial support and prizes”.

    In one of the interviews for his film ‘Synonyms’, he called the collective soul of Israel a “sick soul”. He said, “The film talks about the collective Israeli soul, and the Israeli collective soul is a sick soul. Something in the deepest essence of Israeli existence is false – it is rotten. It’s not just Benjamin Netanyahu – it’s not special to Israel. But, at the same time, I think this Israeli sickness or nature is characterised by young Israeli men who are muscular, smiling, who don’t raise any questions and don’t have any doubts. They are extremely proud of being Israeli. They have a total dichotomist vision of existence: Us versus all the others.”

    ALSO READ | ‘You should be ashamed’: Envoy to Israeli filmmaker on ‘Kashmir Files’ remark row

    Despite holding a critical view for his own country, Nadav Lapid was invited to IFFI as the Chief Jury. However, his take on Kashmir Files was responded with mixed opinions from the rest of the jury.

    #Breaking: #IFFI Jury says they were “disturbed and shocked” to see #NationalFilmAward winning #KashmirFiles, “a propoganda, vulgar movie” in the competition section of a prestigious festival— organised by the Govt of India.

  • Israeli director under fire for comments on ‘The Kashmir Files’, international jury says ‘personal opinion’ 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Israeli director and IFFI international jury chairperson Nadav Lapid was at the centre of furious debate on Tuesday for his comments on ‘The Kashmir Files’ with Israel’s ambassador saying he abused India’s invitation and jury members distancing themselves from his views.

    As the controversy grew, a day after the director described the ‘The Kashmir Files’ as “propaganda” and “vulgar”, BJP leaders, actors such as Anupam Kher and Ranvir Shorey and the film’s director Vivek Agnihotri also joined the discourse against him.

    There were some voices, including from the Congress and some in the film fraternity, who spoke up in his defence.

    Lapid’s surprise comments on the much-discussed film came at the closing ceremony of the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India on Monday attended by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur as well as actors Akshay Kumar and Asha Parekh.

    Agnihotri has compared ‘The Kashmir Files’, which portrays the exodus of Kashmir Pandits from the Valley due to militancy in the early 1990s, to Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust epic ‘Schindler’s List’.

    The 1993 Oscar winner was referenced by many people, including Israel Ambassador to India Naor Gilon who wrote an open letter put out in a series of tweets.

    “As a son of a holocaust survivor, I was extremely hurt to see reactions in India to you that are doubting Schindler’s List, the Holocaust and worse. I unequivocally condemn such statements. There is no justification. It does show the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue here,” he said.

    Gilon added that Lapid — who is viewed as an anti-establishment director — should be “ashamed” as he had “abused in the worst way” the Indian invitation to him to chair the panel of judges.

    ‘The Kashmir Files’, which polarised opinions following its release in March and went on to become a blockbuster hit, was screened at IFFI on November 22 as part of the Indian panorama section.

    Indian film director Sudipto Sen, who was part of the international film jury, distanced himself and other members from Lapid’s statement.

    “Whatever has been said by IFFI 2022 Jury Chairman Mr Nadav Lapid about the film Kashmir Files, from the stage of the closing ceremony of 53rd IFFI was completely his personal opinion,” Sen wrote in a note shared on Twitter.

    #IFFI #IFFI2022 @nfdcindia @ianuragthakur pic.twitter.com/GBhtw0tH6C
    — Sudipto SEN (@sudiptoSENtlm) November 28, 2022
    Sen said he and other jury members, including Spanish documentary filmmaker Javier Angulo Barturen and French film editor Pascale Chavance, made no mention of their “likes or dislikes”.

    Comments by Lapid were made in his “personal capacity”, he stressed.

    BJP’s Amit Malviya compared Lapid’s condemnation of ‘The Kashmir Files’ to the denial of the Holocaust.

    “For the longest time, people even denied the Holocaust and called Schindler’s List propaganda, just like some are doing to Kashmir Files. The truth eventually triumphs, no matter what,” the party’s IT department head said.

    His colleague, BJP’s Goa spokesperson Savio Rodrigues, said Lapid’s statement “is an insult to the horrors faced by Kashmir Hindus (in the past)”.

    “You can critique a film artistically but to term the truth about the brutality faced by the Kashmiri Pandits propaganda is shameful,” he added.

    Agnihotri also spoke about ‘truth’ in a cryptic media post and said “it is the most dangerous thing” as it can make people lie.

    Anupam Kher, who starred in “The Kashmir Files”, added that truth will always trump falsehood.

    He also shared a series of stills from “Schindler’s List”, a true life story about German industrialist Oskar Schindler who saved more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during World War II.

    His post also included a picture of himself in “The Kashmir Files”.

    Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit called on Union minister Thakur to seek “serious action” against Lapid and said choosing as international jury head was a lapse on the part of the festival organisers.

    “Dear @ianuragthakur ji . I as a #KashmiriPandit & who is a victim of genocide seek serious actn agnst Mr.#NadavLapid Jury head of IFFI 2022 fr calling d depiction of our tragedy as vulgar . Hs hs added salt to our wounds&hence shld b made to tender a apology . #KashmirFiles (sic),” he wrote.

    Dear @ianuragthakur ji .I as a #KashmiriPandit & who is a victim of genocide seek a serious actn agnst Mr. #NadavLapid Jury head of IFFI 2022 fr calling d depiction of our tragedy as vulgar .Hs hs added salt to our wounds&hence shld b made to tender a apology .#KashmirFiles
    — Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 28, 2022
    There were also some who spoke up for Paris-based Lapid, known for his award-winning film ‘Synonyms’ .

    Hate gets called out, eventually, said Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.

    “PM Modi, his govt, BJP, the RW ecosystem feverishly promoted ‘The Kashmir Files’. A movie rejected by the International Film Festival Of India. Jury Head Nadav Lapid called it a “propaganda, vulgar movie – inappropriate for the film festival’,” Shrinate tweeted.

    Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi shared a video link of the Israeli filmmaker’s speech where he criticised “The Kashmir Files”.

    “A sensitive issue of justice for Kashmiri Pandits was sacrificed at the altar of propaganda. This is a must-listen segment at the #IFFIGoa2022,” Chaturvedi said.

    Actor Swara Bhasker, known for being unabashedly vocal about her opinions, shared a link to the news story about Lapid’s remarks at the closing ceremony of the film gala.

    “Apparently it’s pretty clear to the world..” Bhasker wrote in the caption.

    With Lapid’s comment, ‘The Kashmir Files’, written and directed by Agnihotri and produced by Zee Studios, is back in the news.

    The film was called out for its problematic politics by a section of critics and authors when it was released but performed exceptionally well at the box office by minting over Rs 330 crore.

    The movie also sparked debate among political parties after several BJP-ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, gave it an exemption from entertainment tax.

    NEW DELHI: Israeli director and IFFI international jury chairperson Nadav Lapid was at the centre of furious debate on Tuesday for his comments on ‘The Kashmir Files’ with Israel’s ambassador saying he abused India’s invitation and jury members distancing themselves from his views.

    As the controversy grew, a day after the director described the ‘The Kashmir Files’ as “propaganda” and “vulgar”, BJP leaders, actors such as Anupam Kher and Ranvir Shorey and the film’s director Vivek Agnihotri also joined the discourse against him.

    There were some voices, including from the Congress and some in the film fraternity, who spoke up in his defence.

    Lapid’s surprise comments on the much-discussed film came at the closing ceremony of the 53rd edition of the International Film Festival of India on Monday attended by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur as well as actors Akshay Kumar and Asha Parekh.

    Agnihotri has compared ‘The Kashmir Files’, which portrays the exodus of Kashmir Pandits from the Valley due to militancy in the early 1990s, to Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust epic ‘Schindler’s List’.

    The 1993 Oscar winner was referenced by many people, including Israel Ambassador to India Naor Gilon who wrote an open letter put out in a series of tweets.

    “As a son of a holocaust survivor, I was extremely hurt to see reactions in India to you that are doubting Schindler’s List, the Holocaust and worse. I unequivocally condemn such statements. There is no justification. It does show the sensitivity of the Kashmir issue here,” he said.

    Gilon added that Lapid — who is viewed as an anti-establishment director — should be “ashamed” as he had “abused in the worst way” the Indian invitation to him to chair the panel of judges.

    ‘The Kashmir Files’, which polarised opinions following its release in March and went on to become a blockbuster hit, was screened at IFFI on November 22 as part of the Indian panorama section.

    Indian film director Sudipto Sen, who was part of the international film jury, distanced himself and other members from Lapid’s statement.

    “Whatever has been said by IFFI 2022 Jury Chairman Mr Nadav Lapid about the film Kashmir Files, from the stage of the closing ceremony of 53rd IFFI was completely his personal opinion,” Sen wrote in a note shared on Twitter.

    #IFFI #IFFI2022 @nfdcindia @ianuragthakur pic.twitter.com/GBhtw0tH6C
    — Sudipto SEN (@sudiptoSENtlm) November 28, 2022
    Sen said he and other jury members, including Spanish documentary filmmaker Javier Angulo Barturen and French film editor Pascale Chavance, made no mention of their “likes or dislikes”.

    Comments by Lapid were made in his “personal capacity”, he stressed.

    BJP’s Amit Malviya compared Lapid’s condemnation of ‘The Kashmir Files’ to the denial of the Holocaust.

    “For the longest time, people even denied the Holocaust and called Schindler’s List propaganda, just like some are doing to Kashmir Files. The truth eventually triumphs, no matter what,” the party’s IT department head said.

    His colleague, BJP’s Goa spokesperson Savio Rodrigues, said Lapid’s statement “is an insult to the horrors faced by Kashmir Hindus (in the past)”.

    “You can critique a film artistically but to term the truth about the brutality faced by the Kashmiri Pandits propaganda is shameful,” he added.

    Agnihotri also spoke about ‘truth’ in a cryptic media post and said “it is the most dangerous thing” as it can make people lie.

    Anupam Kher, who starred in “The Kashmir Files”, added that truth will always trump falsehood.

    He also shared a series of stills from “Schindler’s List”, a true life story about German industrialist Oskar Schindler who saved more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during World War II.

    His post also included a picture of himself in “The Kashmir Files”.

    Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit called on Union minister Thakur to seek “serious action” against Lapid and said choosing as international jury head was a lapse on the part of the festival organisers.

    “Dear @ianuragthakur ji . I as a #KashmiriPandit & who is a victim of genocide seek serious actn agnst Mr.#NadavLapid Jury head of IFFI 2022 fr calling d depiction of our tragedy as vulgar . Hs hs added salt to our wounds&hence shld b made to tender a apology . #KashmirFiles (sic),” he wrote.

    Dear @ianuragthakur ji .
    I as a #KashmiriPandit & who is a victim of genocide seek a serious actn agnst Mr. #NadavLapid Jury head of IFFI 2022 fr calling d depiction of our tragedy as vulgar .
    Hs hs added salt to our wounds&hence shld b made to tender a apology .#KashmirFiles
    — Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 28, 2022
    There were also some who spoke up for Paris-based Lapid, known for his award-winning film ‘Synonyms’ .

    Hate gets called out, eventually, said Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.

    “PM Modi, his govt, BJP, the RW ecosystem feverishly promoted ‘The Kashmir Files’. A movie rejected by the International Film Festival Of India. Jury Head Nadav Lapid called it a “propaganda, vulgar movie – inappropriate for the film festival’,” Shrinate tweeted.

    Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi shared a video link of the Israeli filmmaker’s speech where he criticised “The Kashmir Files”.

    “A sensitive issue of justice for Kashmiri Pandits was sacrificed at the altar of propaganda. This is a must-listen segment at the #IFFIGoa2022,” Chaturvedi said.

    Actor Swara Bhasker, known for being unabashedly vocal about her opinions, shared a link to the news story about Lapid’s remarks at the closing ceremony of the film gala.

    “Apparently it’s pretty clear to the world..” Bhasker wrote in the caption.

    With Lapid’s comment, ‘The Kashmir Files’, written and directed by Agnihotri and produced by Zee Studios, is back in the news.

    The film was called out for its problematic politics by a section of critics and authors when it was released but performed exceptionally well at the box office by minting over Rs 330 crore.

    The movie also sparked debate among political parties after several BJP-ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, gave it an exemption from entertainment tax.

  • SC lawyer files police complaint against IFFI jury head for remarks on ‘The Kashmir Files’

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: A practising lawyer of the Supreme Court on Tuesday filed a complaint with Goa police against International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Jury Head Nadav Lapid for allegedly abusing Hindu community sacrifice made in Kashmir by calling the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ as ‘vulgar’ and ‘propaganda’.

    Advocate Vineet Jindal has filed a complaint against Nadav Lapid and sought registration under sections 121,153,153A and B, 295, 298 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for his alleged comment on the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ based on the true story of Hindu genocide in Kashmir, the complaint stated.

    The film ‘The Kashmir Files’ is based on the ‘exodus and killings’ of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley in the 1990s by Islamic terrorists. By calling a movie based on a true story of Hindu genocide by Islamic terrorists that happened in Kashmir as ‘Propaganda’ and ‘vulgar,’ he is abusing the sacrifice of Hindus in Kashmir and targeting the Hindu community by using derogatory words vulgar and propaganda upon Hindu killings just to incite hatred in our country, it added.

    The complaint has been addressed to the Director general of police (DGP), in Goa and stated: “The content of the statement made by him (Nadav Lapid) clearly shows his intent of instigating enmity between groups. Being a social activist and Hindu by religion, my religious sentiments are deeply hurt by the statement made by Nadav Lapid.” complainant Advocate Vineet Jindal stated.

    @vineetJindal19 ने गोवा डीजीपी को पत्र लिखकर कश्मीर फाइल्स के खिलाफ टिप्पणी और कश्मीरी पंडितों की भावनाओं को आहत करने को लेकर IFFI के जूरी प्रमुख नदव लापिड के खिलाफ शिकायत दर्ज कराई है।#NadavLapid #KashmiriPandit #KashmirFiles #VineetJindal pic.twitter.com/RsVXryAFC4
    — Adv.Vineet Jindal (@vineetJindal19) November 29, 2022
    The statement given by Nadav is totally manipulated and with ill intention towards the Hindu Community in the grab of targeting movie Kashmir files which became clearer when one of the jury members at IFFI Sudipto Sen through his Twitter account said that “it is completely in a personal capacity- nothing to do with the esteemed jury board”, Jindal stated further.

    The statement of Sudipito Sen shows that no such statement has been approved or discussed upon Kashmir Files between jury members at IFFI but Nadav must have some hidden agenda in his mind against Hindu Community which came out during his closing speech in IFFI, it added.

    On the controversial statement, The Kashmir Files lead actor Anupam Kher also criticized Nadav Lapid and said, “We’ll give a proper reply. If the holocaust is right, the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits is right too. Seems pre-planned as immediately after that toolkit gang became active. Shameful for him to make a statement like this.”

    Anupam Kher, on IFFI Jury Head Nadav Lapid’s remarks on KashmirFiles also said, “coming from a community – Jews – who suffered the holocaust, he also pained those people who suffered this tragedy several yrs ago. May God give him wisdom so that he doesn’t use the tragedy of thousands & lakhs of people from the stage to fulfil his agenda.” 

    NEW DELHI: A practising lawyer of the Supreme Court on Tuesday filed a complaint with Goa police against International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Jury Head Nadav Lapid for allegedly abusing Hindu community sacrifice made in Kashmir by calling the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ as ‘vulgar’ and ‘propaganda’.

    Advocate Vineet Jindal has filed a complaint against Nadav Lapid and sought registration under sections 121,153,153A and B, 295, 298 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for his alleged comment on the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ based on the true story of Hindu genocide in Kashmir, the complaint stated.

    The film ‘The Kashmir Files’ is based on the ‘exodus and killings’ of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley in the 1990s by Islamic terrorists. By calling a movie based on a true story of Hindu genocide by Islamic terrorists that happened in Kashmir as ‘Propaganda’ and ‘vulgar,’ he is abusing the sacrifice of Hindus in Kashmir and targeting the Hindu community by using derogatory words vulgar and propaganda upon Hindu killings just to incite hatred in our country, it added.

    The complaint has been addressed to the Director general of police (DGP), in Goa and stated: “The content of the statement made by him (Nadav Lapid) clearly shows his intent of instigating enmity between groups. Being a social activist and Hindu by religion, my religious sentiments are deeply hurt by the statement made by Nadav Lapid.” complainant Advocate Vineet Jindal stated.

    @vineetJindal19 ने गोवा डीजीपी को पत्र लिखकर कश्मीर फाइल्स के खिलाफ टिप्पणी और कश्मीरी पंडितों की भावनाओं को आहत करने को लेकर IFFI के जूरी प्रमुख नदव लापिड के खिलाफ शिकायत दर्ज कराई है।#NadavLapid #KashmiriPandit #KashmirFiles #VineetJindal pic.twitter.com/RsVXryAFC4
    — Adv.Vineet Jindal (@vineetJindal19) November 29, 2022
    The statement given by Nadav is totally manipulated and with ill intention towards the Hindu Community in the grab of targeting movie Kashmir files which became clearer when one of the jury members at IFFI Sudipto Sen through his Twitter account said that “it is completely in a personal capacity- nothing to do with the esteemed jury board”, Jindal stated further.

    The statement of Sudipito Sen shows that no such statement has been approved or discussed upon Kashmir Files between jury members at IFFI but Nadav must have some hidden agenda in his mind against Hindu Community which came out during his closing speech in IFFI, it added.

    On the controversial statement, The Kashmir Files lead actor Anupam Kher also criticized Nadav Lapid and said, “We’ll give a proper reply. If the holocaust is right, the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits is right too. Seems pre-planned as immediately after that toolkit gang became active. Shameful for him to make a statement like this.”

    Anupam Kher, on IFFI Jury Head Nadav Lapid’s remarks on KashmirFiles also said, “coming from a community – Jews – who suffered the holocaust, he also pained those people who suffered this tragedy several yrs ago. May God give him wisdom so that he doesn’t use the tragedy of thousands & lakhs of people from the stage to fulfil his agenda.” 

  • Embarrassment for govt: Congress on Israeli filmmaker’s criticism of ‘The Kashmir Files’ 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday attacked the government over Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s criticism of ‘The Kashmir Files’ at IFFI, calling it an “embarrassment” and saying that hate eventually gets called out.

    The attack by the Opposition party leaders came after Lapid, the jury head of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), on Monday described the Hindi film as “propaganda” and “vulgar”.

    “PM Modi, his govt, BJP, the RW ecosystem feverishly promoted ‘The Kashmir Files’, a movie rejected by International Film Festival Of India.

    Jury Head Nadav Lapid called it ‘propaganda, vulgar movie – inappropriate for the film festival’,” Congress spokesperson and head of the party’s social media department Supriya Shrinate said.

    “Hate gets called out, eventually,” Shrinate said in a tweet late Monday night.

    In a tweet on Tuesday, another Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said, “International Film Festival Of India Jury President Nadav Lapid calls ‘The Kashmir Files’ vulgar propaganda.

    In a bid to polarise the people of India, the BJP govt went all out in promoting the movie, resulting in a huge embarrassment for India on the international scale!” In his speech at the closing ceremony of IFFI 2022, Lapid said he was “disturbed and shocked” to see the film being screened at the film festival.

    “All of us were disturbed and shocked by the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’.

    It felt to us like a propaganda and vulgar movie that was inappropriate for an artistic and competitive section of such a prestigious film festival.

    “I feel comfortable to openly share this feeling with you since the spirit of the festival can truly accept critical discussion which is essential for art and life”, Lapid said.

    After Lapid criticised the film, the country’s envoy to India Naor Gilon slammed him, saying he should be “ashamed” as he had “abused in the worst way” the Indian invitation to him to chair the panel of judges at the film festival.

    ‘The Kashmir Files’, which was released in theatres on March 11, was part of the Indian Panorama Section at IFFI and was screened on November 22.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday attacked the government over Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s criticism of ‘The Kashmir Files’ at IFFI, calling it an “embarrassment” and saying that hate eventually gets called out.

    The attack by the Opposition party leaders came after Lapid, the jury head of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), on Monday described the Hindi film as “propaganda” and “vulgar”.

    “PM Modi, his govt, BJP, the RW ecosystem feverishly promoted ‘The Kashmir Files’, a movie rejected by International Film Festival Of India.

    Jury Head Nadav Lapid called it ‘propaganda, vulgar movie – inappropriate for the film festival’,” Congress spokesperson and head of the party’s social media department Supriya Shrinate said.

    “Hate gets called out, eventually,” Shrinate said in a tweet late Monday night.

    In a tweet on Tuesday, another Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said, “International Film Festival Of India Jury President Nadav Lapid calls ‘The Kashmir Files’ vulgar propaganda.

    In a bid to polarise the people of India, the BJP govt went all out in promoting the movie, resulting in a huge embarrassment for India on the international scale!” In his speech at the closing ceremony of IFFI 2022, Lapid said he was “disturbed and shocked” to see the film being screened at the film festival.

    “All of us were disturbed and shocked by the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’.

    It felt to us like a propaganda and vulgar movie that was inappropriate for an artistic and competitive section of such a prestigious film festival.

    “I feel comfortable to openly share this feeling with you since the spirit of the festival can truly accept critical discussion which is essential for art and life”, Lapid said.

    After Lapid criticised the film, the country’s envoy to India Naor Gilon slammed him, saying he should be “ashamed” as he had “abused in the worst way” the Indian invitation to him to chair the panel of judges at the film festival.

    ‘The Kashmir Files’, which was released in theatres on March 11, was part of the Indian Panorama Section at IFFI and was screened on November 22.

  • Tehran bars Iranian filmmaker Reza Dormishian from attending IFFI

    By Express News Service

    Iranian film A Minor, directed by Dariush Mehrjui, was screened at the competition section of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Thursday and Friday. However, the film’s producer Reza Dormishian, also a celebrated filmmaker, has been barred by Tehran from travelling to the IFFI, reports Variety.

    A Minor tells a story of a woman who is torn between her free-thinking daughter, who wants to study music, and her more conservative husband.

    Dormishian is the latest member of Iran’s film community to be sanctioned by the Iranian regime for expressing anti-government views. He had been invited by the IFFI to accompany the film. However, the Iranian authorities did not grant him a permit to leave Iran. When Dormishian went to the airport, his passport was confiscated.

    It is not clear if Dormishian was arrested or what charges he must answer. The actions against him are understood to be directly connected to his social media commentary about the Iranian government over the last few weeks.

    “Throughout the nationwide protests in Iran, Dormishian shared various posts on his Instagram account to show support for the significant developments,” Variety reporting, quoting sources close to the director-producer.

    Iran is in turmoil following the death in September of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody. She had been arrested in Tehran because she allegedly breached the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.

    (This story originally appeared in Cinema Express)

    Iranian film A Minor, directed by Dariush Mehrjui, was screened at the competition section of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Thursday and Friday. However, the film’s producer Reza Dormishian, also a celebrated filmmaker, has been barred by Tehran from travelling to the IFFI, reports Variety.

    A Minor tells a story of a woman who is torn between her free-thinking daughter, who wants to study music, and her more conservative husband.

    Dormishian is the latest member of Iran’s film community to be sanctioned by the Iranian regime for expressing anti-government views. He had been invited by the IFFI to accompany the film. However, the Iranian authorities did not grant him a permit to leave Iran. When Dormishian went to the airport, his passport was confiscated.

    It is not clear if Dormishian was arrested or what charges he must answer. The actions against him are understood to be directly connected to his social media commentary about the Iranian government over the last few weeks.

    “Throughout the nationwide protests in Iran, Dormishian shared various posts on his Instagram account to show support for the significant developments,” Variety reporting, quoting sources close to the director-producer.

    Iran is in turmoil following the death in September of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody. She had been arrested in Tehran because she allegedly breached the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.

    (This story originally appeared in Cinema Express)

  • 60,000 drawings makes ‘My Love Affair with Marriage’, screened at IFFI

    By IANS

    PANAJI: The animation film ‘My Love Affair with Marriage’ screened in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), currently underway in Goa, took seven years for completion using 60,000 drawings.

    Director and screenplay writer Signe Baumane, speaking on IFFI table talk, said that the story is inspired by her personal life.

    “I started writing the script in 2015. It took seven years to make this film. It is inspired by my personal life. I thought it was a dramatic and interesting story (to produce film),” she said.

    Signe Baumane said that she wanted to go to the bottom of knowing “what love is” and “Why do we fall in love”. “I thought I could use science as tool of objectivity to find out what is love. Love is such a subjective feeling…,” she said.

    She said that around 60,000 drawings were used to make this film.

    This 2022 animation drama uses music and science to examine the biological chemistry of love and gender, as well as the societal pressures on an individual to conform to social mores.

    It is a story of inner female rebellion, where a young spirited woman, Zelma, is determined to conform to the pressures of singing Mythology Sirens in order to be loved, but the more she conforms, the more her body resists.

    The film has already picked up two awards and six nominations in film festivals around the world.

    The creator Signe Baumane is a Latvian animator, artist, illustrator and writer, currently living and working in New York City. She has written, directed, designed and animated 16 shorts and two animated feature films.

    PANAJI: The animation film ‘My Love Affair with Marriage’ screened in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), currently underway in Goa, took seven years for completion using 60,000 drawings.

    Director and screenplay writer Signe Baumane, speaking on IFFI table talk, said that the story is inspired by her personal life.

    “I started writing the script in 2015. It took seven years to make this film. It is inspired by my personal life. I thought it was a dramatic and interesting story (to produce film),” she said.

    Signe Baumane said that she wanted to go to the bottom of knowing “what love is” and “Why do we fall in love”. “I thought I could use science as tool of objectivity to find out what is love. Love is such a subjective feeling…,” she said.

    She said that around 60,000 drawings were used to make this film.

    This 2022 animation drama uses music and science to examine the biological chemistry of love and gender, as well as the societal pressures on an individual to conform to social mores.

    It is a story of inner female rebellion, where a young spirited woman, Zelma, is determined to conform to the pressures of singing Mythology Sirens in order to be loved, but the more she conforms, the more her body resists.

    The film has already picked up two awards and six nominations in film festivals around the world.

    The creator Signe Baumane is a Latvian animator, artist, illustrator and writer, currently living and working in New York City. She has written, directed, designed and animated 16 shorts and two animated feature films.

  • Will make efforts to turn IFFI into ideal destination for world cinema: Anurag Thakur

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Saturday said that the government will make consistent efforts to ensure the growth of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and make it a perfect destination for world cinema.

    The 52nd edition of the annual film gala is set to kickoff here with its opening ceremony being attended by Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Ranveer Singh, among others.

    Referring to various new initiatives being launched in the latest edition of the festival, Thakur said IFFI 2021 will have “many firsts.”

    “It is a festival of many firsts and I’m confident that IFFI will become a much bigger platform in the future. We’ll make the effort that from our 75th year of Independence to the 100th year, IFFI will grow on to become a bigger platform for the film community and become an ideal destination for world cinema,” the union minister told reporters here.

    For the year 2021, the festival organisers have announced a partnership with five OTT platforms — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Zee5, Voot and SonyLiv.

    The festival will also launch the initiative 75 Creative Minds, under which, 75 young filmmakers, actors, singers, scriptwriters, and others will be given the opportunity to interact with renowned directors and artists from the world of cinema.

    “For the first time, OTT platforms are also participating in IFFI and 75 young creative minds from various parts of the country were picked to be part of this festival so that they can get exposure and experience.

    “It is also for the first time that the BRICS Film Festival will be held on the sidelines of IFFI and five great films from five countries will be screened,” Thakur said.

    The festival will also confer the first-ever Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award to Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese and Hungarian filmmaker Istevan Szabo.

    Though the two directors are not attending the festival, their pre-recorded messages will be played at the opening ceremony.

    “The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement award is meant for international category and this year, it will be bestowed upon legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Istevan Szabo.

    “Both of them are big names in the international cinema. They have agreed to this award and it proves that IFFI as an attractive platform for not just Indians but also for people from all over the world. We will consistently make efforts to ensure that IFFI as a platform becomes even bigger,” Thakur said.

    Asked about regional movies leading the Indian Panorama section, Thakur asserted that India is a land of many cultures and every regional language has its own importance.

    “Be it Tamil, Telugu or Bengali films, today regional cinema has a significant hold over the minds of the viewers. And not just nationally, regional films are being recognised all over the world.

    “So in Indian Panorama, whether in feature or non-feature, audiences will get to see something new and different,” the union minister added.

    Thakur also remembered the contribution of late union minister and four-time Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar in making the state the permanent venue for IFFI.

    “It is the result of Parrikarji’s hard work and had he been here today, then he would have been very happy,” he added.

    The 52nd edition of International Film Festival of India is being organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the Goa government. The nine-day film gala will take place in a hybrid format — virtual and physical — till November 28.

  • Danish World War II drama ‘Into The Darkness’ bags Golden Peacock at 51st IFFI

    By PTI
    PANAJI: Danish World War II drama “Into The Darkness” won the Golden Peacock award at the closing ceremony of the 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

    Directed by Anders Refn, the 152-minute film chronicles the complex, emotional turmoil which the people of Denmark had to undergo, during the Nazi occupation of the country.

    The award consists of a cash prize of RS 40 lakh, to be shared equally between Refn and producer Lene Borglum.

    WATCH TRAILER:

    The duo, however, were not present.

    The winner was picked by the International Jury, comprising Argentine director Pablo Cesar as Chairman, Prasanna Vithanage (Sri Lanka), Abu Bakr Shawky (Austria), Indian filmmaker Priyadarshan and Rubaiyat Hossain from Bangladesh.

    A total of 224 films were screened under different sections at the 51st edition of the festival which went “hybrid” due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

    Japanese historical drama “Wife of a Spy” by Kiyoshi Kurosawa was the closing film of the nine-day gala.

    The closing ceremony was held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium.