Third Eye Asian Film Festival Diary'08: Day 0 story
Status
Devang Ghia jots down his thoughts before he loses his breath to catch five films a day
How far does a movie buff have to go to untangle his tingle? Well if you are in Bombay right now, the answer is Andheri to Churchgate. The Asian Film Fest kicks off today at three venues, Y. B Chavan auditorium near Mantralay, Plaza at Dadar and Fun Republic at Andheri. For movie buffs, it means seven hectic days of hopping between these cinema halls trying to catch the maximum possible movies, without missing any of the 60-65 odd on show.
The euphoria begins early as you fervently keep returning to the film fest's official website, only to find that it is still displaying the previous year's schedule. Then one day, without warning, it's suddenly put up! You take a print for all the venues, lay it across the table and chalk out a game plan. Anything less than 5 films a day is unacceptable, anything more is a miracle. First two at Dadar, the next two at Andheri and the last one at YBC. Hmmm, but do I have enough time? It would take around 30 minutes from Dadar to Andheri and the 2 o'clock show at Plaza is for 96 minutes. That means I have just about enough time to rush for the 4 o'clock show at Andheri. And Andheri to YBC will take 45 minutes combining a fast local and a taxi. That means the 8.30 show is definitely on. Ahhh, the schedule for Day 1 is set, but wait, they are having a Satyajit Ray retrospective which cannot be missed at any cost. So now I'll have to rework the entire thing around his screenings. Back to the tack board.
More than the films at a film festival it is the scheduling to make the optimum use of your season pass that adds to the experience. Of course the films matter, but they are second only to the thrills of planning and re-planning. While a few films and many filmmakers are familiar, many films and a few filmmakers are being heard of for the first time. Though handouts and synopsis are available, it's often gut feeling that plays the dominant role in your schedule.
A square meal has to take a backseat as pausing for food means that you are going to be late for the connecting show. Although care is taken in evenly spacing out the movies, it is impossible to catch all of them. There is a competition section and a prize is awarded to the best film selected by an eminent jury. But experience tells me that if you have to choose between a film in competition and an established filmmaker whose film you haven't seen, go for the latter.
This time's mix, like any other seems interesting. Time (and this writer) will tell how smart the choices were, both on the part of the selection jury and me as the viewer who is spoilt for choices.
See you there!
