How about watching five hours of Gangs of Wasseypur in one sitting,just like the audience did at the Cannes film festival? Or owning the scarf worn by Shammi Kapoor in Junglee,or the sweater he wore in Andaz? All of this is possible at the Osians 12th Cinefan Film Festival of Indian,Asian and Arab cinema,to be held in Delhi from July 27 to August 5. The venues are Siri Fort and The Kila complex in Mehrauli. With Freedom of Creative Thought and Expression as the theme this year,the festival,which is being organised by Mumbai-based Osians in collaboration with the Delhi government,will feature 175 films. This includes 61 short films from 38 countries such as China,Iran,Nepal and Bangladesh. Of the 175 screenings,there will be 15 world premieres,eight international premieres,13 Asian premieres and 104 Indian premieres. Among the eagerly-awaited premieres will be Kolkata-based director Rituparno Ghoshs Chitrangada. Along with exploring genres such as animation,childrens films,short films and environmental films,tributes will also be paid to icons such as Mani Kaul and Japanese filmmakers Koji Wakamatsu and Masao Adachi. Besides the screenings of Kauls films such as Uski Roti,Nazar,Dhrupad,and Duvidha,the tribute to Kaul will have sound recordists and cameramen who have worked with him participating in the Mani Kaul Memorial Lecture. The films will compete in four categories Asian and Arab,Indian,First Features and Shorts with a jury comprising Marco Mueller,director of Rome Film Festival,Muzaffar Ali,who made Umrao Jaan (for the Asian and Arab section); and Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir,who will judge the Indian section. Besides,a two-day summit will discuss Delhi as Indias next film city. The festival will also have memorabilia from Indian cinema going under the hammer on July 31. This will include garments and accessories worn by film personalities,and posters of films,among others.
