A three-day ninth National Film Festival on Art and Artists started here on Friday. The festival organised by Jatin Das Centre of Art (JDCA) focuses on ‘Making of Art: the Process’ this year.
Inaugurating the festival, Chief Minister Naveen patnaik said, “The Kalamandal Project to provide a prestigious platform to artistes of all forms is being taken up soon. There is also an initiative to set up a permanent art gallery in the State capital.”
The Chief Minister also said, “Odisha is deeply rooted in art and culture, adding, from majestic temples of Puri, Bhubaneswar and Konark to patta painings and pure tribal art, Odisha is a journey through art. It should be documented and preserved. This film festival will help to preserve our treasured heritage.” Patnaik praised Jatin Das’s life time devotion and JDCA to popularize the art of Odisha.
The Chief Minster said that the collections of art objects and documentary films by the JD Centre are a visual delight and a reminder of our cultural wealth. The documentation of art and artists makes a great contribution to the history of our art, Patnaik observed.
The film festival started with the screening of a fifteen minutes short film ‘Journeys’ by Reena Mohan. The film demonstrates the skill and creativity of Indian craftswomen and displays the beauty and range of their work. It highlighted the traditional embroidery skill of women in north Bihar.
Cine lovers of the city will watch documentary films ‘Painter’s Sketchbook’, a film by MF Hussain, ‘Faces, Film on Himmat Shah’, a film by Vinod Bhardwaj and Rohit Suri, ‘Fakir Mohan’ by Subas Das,‘living with clay’ by Gautam Banerjee and many more during the festival. Out of about 100 film entries, a selection committee comprising many eminent filmmakers has chosen 35 films to screen.
Among others, Minister for Tourism and Culture Ashok Chandra Panda, Chairman, JDCA Jatin Das, Secretary, Tourism and Culture Arabinda Padhi, JDCA executive director Abasar Beuria and Film Festival director Biren Das spoke. Padmashri Chaturbhuj Meher and actress Nandita Das were present.