31 movies to feature in Orange City Int’l Film Fest

Nagpur: The third edition of

Orange City International Film Festival

will be held from February 7 to10. Organized by Orange City Cultural Foundation, in association with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur University, the four-day festival will screen 31 full length Indian and foreign feature films and 25 short films.

Addressing the media on Monday, Chandrashekhar Meshram, chairman of Orange City Cultural Foundation, said, “This year too we will be honouring two well-known filmmakers, Jahnu Barua for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema, and Marathi film director Rajdutt who will be presented the Orange City Cultural Foundation award.”

Of the 17 films made by Barua, who hails from Assam, 12 have won National awards. Rajdutt is known for his experimental style of filmmaking and has given films like Shapit, Devaki Nandan Gopala, Sarja, Pudhcha Paul among others.

The festival will open on February 7 at 5pm at Persistent Systems auditorium and will be inaugurated by guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule who will also honour the two filmmakers. The inauguration will be followed by screening of Italian film ‘My Own Good’, directed by Pippo Mezzapesa.

The screenings will be held at Persistent auditorium and at two halls of Inox Jaswant Mall, simultaneously at both the venues from 9.30am. Everyday there will be five shows, except for the closing day on February 10 when at 4pm well-known lyricist and actor Swanand Kirkire will deliver Nilu Phule Memorial Oration.

Four Marathi films — Naal, Bhonga, Chumbak and Dhappa — will be screened at the festival and there will be an interaction with directors of ‘Bhonga’, Shivaji Lotan Patil and director of ‘Chumba’, Sandeep Modi. This will be followed by the closing ceremony in presence of Dr Vikas Amte.

“As Sudhakar Reddy Yakanti, who has directed Naal, will not be present, we have invited child actor Shrinivas Pokale who plays Chaitanya in the film,” Meshram said.

Rakkhosh, the only Hindi film being screened at the festival, has been made in Nagpur. Srivinay Sulian, director of the film, will also be present during the screening and interaction.

A talk with Jahnu Barua will be held on February 8 at Inox Jaswant Tuli Mall at 11.45am where he will be in conversation with Jabbar Patel and Samar Nakhate.

“This year, we are giving free entry to students, members of film societies and senior citizens. For others there will be season’s pass for Rs50, which will be available at the office of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh,” Meshram said.

HIGHLIGHTS

Feb 7: Inauguration at Persistent Systems auditorium, 5pm

Feb 8: Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai | Dir: Jahnu Barua; Jaswant Inox, 9.30am

Three films of director Bernardo Bertolucci

Feb 9: The Last Emperor | Persistent hall, 9.30am; Last Tango in Paris | Jaswant Inox, 9.30am; Poisonous Roses | Dir: Ahmed Fawzi Saleh; Jaswant Inox, 12 noon; Silence of Others (documentary) | Dir: Almudena Carracedo, Rober Bahar; Persistent Hall, 2.30pm; Dear Son (Weldi) | Dir: Mohamed Ben Attia; Inox Jaswant, 11:15am

Feb 10: Little Buddha | Jaswant Inox, 9.15am

(The full schedule of film festival is available on OCIFF on Facebook)