Her seven day journey to the Pupal Valley in search of yarsagumba, the caterpillar-fungus priced highly for its medicinal properties, is the subject of Dipendra Bhattari’s 55 minutes documentary ‘Journey to Yarsa’. [break]
This very film also officially marked the opening of this edition of Film South Asia (FSA), a four-day festival where a total of 36 documentaries from all across South Asia will be screened.
“This is the first time I have ever been into a cinema theatre. I had never seen a film before, but this seems to be fun,” exclaimed Puni Maya after seeing herself on screen. Puni Maya is here for the festival with two of her kids.
“Hers is a humble family. Though not very well off, they are generous people,” shared Dipendra. It took him three years to complete the project.
Speaking at the event Kanak Mani Dixit, the chair of FSA, expressed said the event is a big success. “These days we have a huge audience for documentaries,” he said, adding. “The festival will be an interesting affair for both general audience and film-makers.”
There are discourses with filmmakers after every screening. Eminent Bangladeshi filmmaker Catherine Masud, inaugurating the fest said dreams could come alive through celluloid.
The other screenings of the initial day were ‘The Other Song’ by Saba Dewan (India), ‘Jharu Katha’ by Navroze Contactor (India), ‘Nero’s Guests’ by Deepa Bhatia (India) and ‘The Dreaming Vendors’ by Ahmed Abid (Bangaldesh/Thailand).
30 September 2011
HALL I
10 AM Common Ground 52 min, Sri Lanka, 2011, dir - Philip Buccellato
Making space for both people and elephants.
11:30 AM Nargis - When Time Stopped Breathing 90 min, Burma, 2010,
dir - Kyaw Kyaw Oo, Maung Myint Aung
Shot in secret, the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
1:30 PM Out of the Darkness 73 min, Nepal, 2010, dir - Stefano Levi
Dr Sanduk Ruit takes an ‘eye camp’ to his home village.
3:15 PM Ishpata 70 min, Pakistan, 2011, dir - Afsheen Sajid Ali, Irfan Ali Shah
Pakistan’s indigenous Kalasha people.
5 PM Saving Dolma 62 min, Nepal, 2010, dir - Kesang Tseten
The case of an accused female migrant in the Gulf.
6:30 PM I was worth 50 sheep 72 min, Afghanistan, 2010, dir - Nima Sarvestani
Women as property in Afghanistan.
HALL II
11:45 AM Dharavi, Slum For Sale 79 min, India, 2010, dir - Lutz Konermann
Struggle between residents and developers in the world’s largest slum.
1:30 PM Platform No. 5 26 min, India, 2010, dir - Vanaja C
Street children make a living at the train station of Secunderabad.
The Search for Justice 28 min, Pakistan, 2011, dir - Tehmina Ahmed
The state of labour laws and courts in Pakistan.
3 PM The Truth That Wasn’t There 84 min, Sri Lanka/UK, 2011, dir - Guy Gunaratne
The first filmmakers to enter the Sri Lankan North after the fighting stopped.
5 PM Tareque Masud Memorial: A Dialouge
‘Documentary: The Universe from Nitrate to YouTube’
Panelists - Nupur Basu (filmmaker and journalist), Yasmine Kabir (filmmaker) and
Satish Sharma (photographer and writer), Moderated by Kanak Mani Dixit
Venue: Kumari Cinema, Kathmandu
Tickets at Rs 50
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