Filmmaker Sanalkumar Sasidharan has called for the setting up of more platforms for screening high quality cinema at film festivals.
Mr. Sasidharan won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) awards for his film ‘Oralpokkam’ at the recently-held International Film Festival of Kerala.
Inaugurating the State-level short film festival organised by the Kazhcha Film Society here on Friday, Mr. Sasidharan said supporting cinema with good content was not a daunting task, but the distribution chain in the Malayalam film industry was in the hands of corporate entities. “Such sections constantly deny opportunity to the public to view quality cinematic works. Film societies must strive to promote such films as a sign of resistance against those with commercial interests,” he said.
Fourteen short films were screened on the opening day of the three-day festival. Scenarist Samjath Narayanan led an open forum organised as part of the event.
Twenty-one films will be screened at the festival on Saturday. National Award winning director and festival jury chairman Dr. Biju will lead the open forum on the day. The short film festival will conclude on Sunday.
