Film Makers as Social Change Makers

Unlike many of their European colleagues who are hunting for good stories around the world, Indian directors are deeply concerned with their own society and want to help change reality at home. They consider their films a vehicle of investigation, in which they discover and expose their personal truth about reality. A documentary in India is not only meant to be seen but also to be debated, and taken as a serious signal that the country is heading into an undesired direction.

India is still a country where every free expression of opinion within the cinematic form has to undergo a complicated process of censorship. This seems to be an anachronism, especially considering the open and global character of the country today. Maybe the authorities find it difficult to let go of these regulations because of the strong impact of film on Indian society and its universal appeal to the masses among which so many different languages are spoken.. Consequently, sometimes it takes years for a film to receive approval and the topic may be outdated by the time the certificate arrives. Even films that are only screened once at an international festival require a censor’s certificate. Several films in our special program were first denied to be screened in public as they were perceived not to be appropriate due to political sensitivities or taboo. Yet their relevance and documentary strength, makes them appealing for all societies and cultures.

Rada Šešić
Program Curator, Program Committee member of IDFA, Program Advisor of IFF Rotterdam.

All films are screened in original language with English subtitles except Felvidék.