International Film & Television Club

Festival of short digital films from

28^th January to 5^th February 2005

Some Of The Prominent Films

Festival Of Israeli Student Films at AAFT

The ambassador of Israel in India, His Excellency David Aphek formally inaugurated the first ever festival of Israeli Student Films at Asian Academy of Film & Television. Welcoming the ambassador and Mr. Akiva Tevet, Head of the Film Department at Camera Obscura School of Art , Prof. Sandeep Marwah thanked them for arranging the screening of the films exclusively for the students of AAFT and said this event has great educational value for the would be film makers.Addressing the students His Excellency David Aphek who had personally supervised the relief provided by his country to the victims of the earthquake at Bhuj, was visibly moved when he asked all present to observe silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.Continuing with his address, the ambassador said it was indeed difficult for him to switch his mind from disaster to film art.He, however, felt that the human suffering in Gujrat will surely provide subject matter for films.His Excellency David Aphek was of provides the right kind of environment to the film makers for their work. Mr.Akiva Tevet who had come from Israel to interact with the students of AAFT, said that today's film makers emerge from film schools and are better educated than their predecessors. He was of the view that film school is the place to discover and to nurture one's artistic potential. Mr. Akiva Tevet said the some of the makers of films brought by him are extremely talented and they posses the necessary potential to earn recognition in the film world.the screening of films followed the formal inauguration of the festival.

Festival Of Asian Cinema

Yet another festival of Asian cinema-the fourth in the series - has been organised by the international Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (Netpac) in the Indian capital New Delhi. This mega event being supported by a number of organisations like Indian Council of Cultural Relations, embassies of Egypt and France in India, the Delhi Administration and the Japan Foundation will be fromally inaugurated by the hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi Ms. Shiela Dikshit at the sirifort auditorium on the coming 19th July. Asian Academy of Film & TV is fully supporting the renowned film writer Ms. Aruna Vasudev in her efforts to promote Asian Cinema and highlight the creative work of filmmakers from this part of the world. According to Prof. Sandeep Marwah more than sixty films from twenty five Asian countries and few western ones will screened during this unique film festival and international Jury will select the best film, best actor and best actress out of thirteen competing films. The hon'ble minister for information & Broadcasting Ms. Sushma Swaraj will give away the awards in the closing function on the 29th July.

Indian Films Are Now Popular In Norway Too - TRULS HANEVOLD

The ambassador of Norway in India Mr. Truls Hanevold revealed that is was at the insistence of the Prime Minister of Norway that feature films made in his country were sent to India for the first time last year. His Excellency Mr. Truls Hanevold was formally inagurating the 'Festival of Norwegian Films' at Asian Academy of Film & Television. The audience applauded when the distinguished guest mentioned that he watch the feature film 'Monsoon Wedding' at the threatre in Oslo. Earlier Welcoming the distinguished guests, Prof. Sandeep Marwah affirmed the importance of studying well made films in the training of film and television professionals. He also thankfully acknowledged the support of International Film & Television club to the students of Asian Academy of Film & Television. The three films screened after the inauguration of the festival were 'Junk Mail ' a comedy directed by pal Sietaune , 'The other side of sunday ' a film full of humour and warmth about a Vicar's daughter and 'Frida - Straight from The Heart ' narrating the attitude of a thirteen year old girl towards the affairs and relationships of her family and friends and her own conduct - both directed by Berit Nesheim. 'The Prompter' directed by Hilde Heier , 'The other side of sunday' directed by Beritt Otto Neishem 'Zero Kelvin' directed by Hans Petter Moland and 'Insomnia - No Peace For The Wicked' directed by Eric Skjoldbaerg are among the other feature films included in this event.Norwegian filmmakers have indeed produced outstanding feature films on subjects ranging from social realism, romance, detection, art and literature as well as documentaries since the very beginning of the emergence of this art from in Europe. Norwegian films have won numberous awards in international film festivals. Speaking on this occasion the well know film critic and editor of Cinemaya Aruna Vasudev said films enable the creative people to deal with normal life issues such as characters, relationship and emotions. She said that film festivals indeed provide an opportunity to the film lovers to watch movies other than those from the Hollywood. Dr. U. Radhakrishnan, Vice President, Federation of Films Societies of India, Mr. S.C. Srivastava, AAFT's Resident Representative in Canada, UK also addressed the gathering.

Films Influence Social Values Hiroshi Hirabayashi

Inagurating the festival of japanese films at Asian Academy of Film & TV organised by the academy in association with International Film & Television Club, the Ambassador of Japan in India His Excellency Hiroshi Hirabayashi said that films and television programmes play an important role in the growth of the society.Speaking about the film industry in his country, the Ambassador said that 1950 was the golden decade of japanese cinema when it became truly international .He added that the strength of contemporary japanese film makers lies in animation and documentaries.He was of the opinion that japanese films really showcase the lifestyle and the culture of the country.Earlier welcoming the distinguished guests the Director of the academy Prof. Sandeep Marwah recalled the age-old ties between Japan and India and pointed out that the Subash Chandra Bose had launched the Indian Independence movement from the Japanese soil.He went on to add that television production euipment developed in Japan are being used by the industry all over the World.His Excellency Hirabayashi Hiroshi hoped that the study of japanese visual arts through the films which will be screened during the festival, will be helpful to the students in improving their skills for film making and television presentations. The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. masayuki Takahashi of the Japan cultural center in New Delhi. Feature films 'rashoman' directed by Akira Kurosawa and 'Ah, spring' directed by Shinji Somai are among the ten films which will be screened during the two day festival.


Indo-Sudanese cultural forum forges ahead

The ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan in India HE Abdal Mahmood Abdal Haleem Mohammed informed that a cultural delegation from his country will be coming october. His Excellency disclosed that the Indo-Sudanese Cultural Forum will be bringing out a periodical entitled 'Nile-Ganga'. A festival of films from Sudan will also be organised in the near future, he added. The ambassador was addressing the students of Asian Academy of Film & TV after holding a review meeting of the Forum with Prof. Sandeep Marwah . His Excellency also extended his govt's invitation to Prof. Sandeep Marwah to visit the Republic of the Sudan. The well known Kathak exponent Ms. Uma Sharma who was also present on this occassion, advised the students to devote themselves whole heartedly to the creative work of their choice and never feel discouraged by setbacks in the professional life. A disciple of renowned Shambhu Maharaj, Ms. Uma Sharma is a Protagonist of the 'Guru-Shishya parampara'. Govt of India had awarded padmashree and padma vibhushan to Ms. Uma Sharma in recognition her outstanding contribution to the Kathak dance form. She concluded her address by saying that excellence in any art form could be achieved only through regular and sustained practice namely 'Sadhana'. A music album - Shree Ram Katha - produced by Marwah Studios, was also formally released by Ms. Uma Sharma. Mr. Rahul Mittra of the Times of India also addressed the students.


Ambassador of Russian federation takes note of AAFT

Prof. Sandeep Marwah recently met His Excellency Mr. Alexander M. Kadakin, ambassador of the Russian Federation in India in connection with the proposed festival of Russian films at Asian Academy of Film & TV. His Excellency was pleased to know that Asian Academy of Film & TV routinely makes use of works of great film makers of the world to train the students of cinema. Prof. Sandeep Marwah gave a detailed account of the training facilities available at Asian Academy of Film & TV and that the academy has trained nationals of 36 countries of the world in the past nine years. His Excellency Mr. Alexander M. Kadakin promised all possible support to Prof. Sandeep Marwah in his work and promised to visit the academy at his earliest convenience.

Indo-Israeli cutural forum formed

History in the international field of culture was created during the visit of Israeli theatre personality Madam Etty Resnik to the Asian Academy of Film & Television accompanied by Mrs. Shoshana Haim of the Embassy of Israel when it was decided after their meeting with the director of the academy Prof. Sandeep Marwah, to form Indo-Israeli cultural forum for forging closer bonds between the peoples of there two nations. Later addressing the students, Madam Shoshana Haim who is heading the cultural affairs department of her embassy, explained the evolution and the trends of Israeli cinema. She invited the students to participate in the film festival organized by the film school in Jerusalem. Madame Etty Resnik who is herself a coach at an Acting School, told the students that one has to indeed work very hard after learning the art & craft of theatre, film & television to survive in the trade. She went on to add that the performing artiste should never stop reading the heart and the mind of the people to excel in their work. She talked at length about the state of theatre in her country and lamented that world over there is no money in this field of performing art. She pointed out that a true artiste always feels like and hopes to improve over his or her performance. Etty Resnik ended her address by mentioning that the theatre provided the artistes with an immediate response to one's performance and that she is into theatre by choice as this is her first love.

Marwah once again in International forum

The Indo-Turkmenistan Cultural Forum which is affiliated to association of peoples in Asia has nominated Prof. Sandeep Marwah as a patron of the Forum. HE Dr. Mrs. Chinar Rustamova Cultural Counsellor of Embassy of Turkmenistan in India personally handed over a communication to this effect on behalf of the people and government of her country. Her Excellency also presented Prof. Sandeep Marwah with the national dress of Turkmenistan in a glittering function held at the auditorium of Asian Academy of Film & TV in Noida Film City. Speaking with emotion Dr. Mrs. Chinar Rustamova recalled in detail the 800 year old ties between India and Turkmenistan. She also mentioned that Indian feature films are very popular in her country. Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Chinar Rustamova invited the students of academy to do shoot their films in Turkmenistan. Speaking on this occasion Prof. Sandeep Marwah suggested that Indian and Turkmen filmmakers should collaborate in film & television productions. The ambassador of Turkmenistan in India HE Mr. Ashir Ataev also sent his heartiest greetings on this occasion.