Goethe Institut celebrates Docedge Kolkata 2016

Goethe Institut celebrated Asian Forum for Documentary 'Docedge Kolkata 2016' recently. The event held at Goethe Institute Auditorium at Max Muller Bhavan in Kolkata.It is basically an international documentary event attended by some of the most noted documentary makers from across the globe along with foundations and broadcasters to explore co-production opportunities for creative independent filmmakers passionate to produce intriguing stories from real life. The forum also included screenings, seminars and high-quality Master Classes conducted by world renowned filmmakers.

DocedgeKolkata 2016 inauguration was graced by eminent filmmaker Budhadeb Dasgupta who encouraged the participants to treat their films as creative endeavors and not just another project. He felt honored to be a part of the Docedge Kolkata- 2016 for he himself knows from years of experience the pleasure of making Documentaries. The Inaugural Programme of this power packed forum began with the screening of 'Planet of Snail' directed by Seung-jun Yi from Korea.The screening was followed by Q&A session and interaction with the audience of the film's producer Gary Kam.

The Master classes were taken by highly acclaimed Boris Miti? and BAFTA winning documentary maker Emma Davie.Boris Miti? born in Serbia, worked as a professional journalist when he decided to buy a camera and film his first film Pretty Dyana on his own, using a home computer for production. The film, describing the life of the Roma in the outskirts of Belgrade through a story of a Citroën car model which they use to collect recyclable garbage for a living, became popular at festivals (over 60 in total) and received 11 awards. He also directed UNMIK Titanic, a documentary about 100 people who couldn't leave their UN-protected building for over four years. His third film, Good Bye, How Are You? aka Apocalypse Now!, which is about the phenomenon of Serbian satirical aphorisms, premiered in 2009 and has already received several festival awards (e.g. DOCSDF Mexico City). Mitt? encourages copyleft distribution of his films.Boris focused his discussions on Creative Producing in Documentary making on March 2nd, 2016.

Emma Davie is a documentary filmmaker based in Scotland. She also teaches at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, where she runs the Film and TV Department. Previous work includes What Age Can You Start Being An Artist? for Channel 4 (2004, nominated for Grierson Award); Gigha: Buying Our Island (2002), a one-hour film for BBC/Scottish Screen; and Flight, a BBC/Canadian co-production (2000). She has also made short experimental work including 71?N (nominated for best short documentary at Edinburgh International Film Festival). She was on the board of the European Documentary Network (EDN) and writes for DOX magazine. She has worked as tutor or consultant with EDN, European Film College, Storydoc, Discovery Campus, East European Forum, Docs Barcelona, and many others.In Docedge Kolkata- 2016, Emma Davie discussed Structuring Reality- Lessons from Hokusai and other great documentary makers.

In Docedge Kolkata -2016, The screenings of famous documentaries like I AM BREATHING by BAFTA winning filmmaker Emma Davie, Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Short Subject OUR CURSE by Tomasz Sliwinski, Thru You Princess by Ido Haar, A Syrian Love Story by Sean McAlliste and many more.In Docedge Kolkata -2016, over 25 projects from all over the world was presented and also awarded. Here is the list of winners: IDFA Award - Ink in My Body directed by Shatabdi Chakrabarti, Doc Port Incheon Award - Swimming Through the Darkness by Supriyo Sen, EsoDoc Award - My Father the Last Communist by Hong Le Doan, DMZ Doc Award - Birha by Ekta Mittal, Yes Foundation Award - Swimming Through the Darkness by Supriyo Sen, EDN Awards went to My Father the Last Communist by Hong Le DoanIs it too much to ask by Leena Manimekalai, Host Nation by Ko Woon Lee, Participants Award - In the Room by Ayelet Albenfa and No More Babies by Pankaj Johar, Docedge Chandy Mathew Grant - Is it Too Much To Ask by Leena Manimekalai, Docedge Best Pitch Award - The Forest with Red Leaves by Nandan Saxena, Docedge Most Developed Project - Ink in My Body by Shatabdi Chakrabarti and Docedge Best Project - Host Nation by Ko Woon Lee. Docedge Kolkata - 2016 concluded on March 6th, 2016. A spokesperson from the organizing team said that this year it has been a great success for Docedge Kolkata- 2016 and in 2017, the celebration would be huge.

Source: Soutrik Das, City Journalist -Kolkata, CollegeDekho

Picture Credits: Trishita Banerji