[IMC-Editorial] Fwd: AAKHROSH/ LOCARNO INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST

[ramesh pimple]

Note: forwarded message attached.
PRESS NOTE

Subject: “Aakrosh” has been selected for special
screening at Locarno International Film Festival.

“Aakrosh”, a short film made by People’s Media
Initiative on Gujarat 2002 communal carnage and
survivors plight and anguish has been selected for
Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland and it is also
considered by major film festivals in the world.
Festival Director Irene Bignardi informed us that the
Film will be screened at the festival and this Film
will be this years film on Human Rights, last year
they had selected a film on Afghanistan, Lagaan- Film
made by Aamir Khan had also made entry in this
festival last year.

The most important aspect about this festival is that
the World Press and Film Professionals consider this
festival as a major event and so far so very few
Indian Films could officially reach this festival.
Some of Satyajit Ray’s films were screened in the
festival in the past.

Aakrosh is yet to get clearance from Appellant
Tribunal of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, New
Delhi, unless it is cleared we will not be in a
position to sell the Film and exhibit it for Public
Screening. The Film has been rejected by Censor Board
without suggesting even a single cut, banned it
totally. The Film is getting selected to Locarno Film
Festival, Milano Film Festival – Italy, Indo-British
Film Festival – Briton, South Asia Film Festival –
Nepal out of hundreds of entries from across the world
and this has surely put the Information & Broadcasting
Ministry in bad light and the act of Censor Board is
viewed as beginning of Political Censorship as our
second film “Chords on the Richter Scale” on post
earthquake situation 2001 is also banned by Censor
Board in totality.

The International Film Festival is scheduled to be
held in India next year 2004 and Information &
Broadcasting Ministry is making it mandatory to seek
Censor Board Clearance before sending a Film to the
festival and on this ground many Films which are in a
dispute with Censor Board will not be allowed to enter
and many prominent film makers are thinking to boycott
the offing Film festival in India and much is
dependent on the ultimate decision of Appellant
Tribunal of Information & Broadcasting Ministry on
Aakrosh and Chords on the Richter Scale and this issue
might ultimately go to the Supreme Court for
intervention.

For People’s Media Initiative

Ramesh Pimple
Mobile: 09821109295

Please find enclosed attachment of stills from Aakrosh
and Invitation of Locarno Film Festival.
In case you have covered the story, please send us the
cutting for our record as it will will help us in
preparing our case.

Regards,
Rumana.
Address: 002, Gr. Flr., Parasrampuria Tower No. 6, 
Lokhandwala, Andheri (W), Mumbai – 400053. 
Tel: (022) 26358301/02







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