A screen on the street

Nizhalattam has proven many times that it is more than just another organisation. The cultural collective is presenting its second season of street film festival for three days this week, from Wednesday to Friday, at Manaveeyam Veedhi, the cultural corridor in the capital city. Altogether 33 entries from international, national and regional categories are up for screening in the evening slots from 5 pm to 10 pm. French short film, The Mirror, will open the Nizhalattam Street Film Fest 2017.

“Movies in the competition section are slotted for the concluding day. This time around, state award winning movies are also included to vie with each other. Screening is arranged on one side of the street. High definition video quality is assured and copies in Blu-ray alone are accepted,” says Ratheesh Rohini, secretary of Nizhalattam Art and Cultural Society and creative head of the film festival. Arunsol is the festival director this time. It is sub-categorised into short film fest, documentary fest, drama fest and art exhibition.

By the time the festival comes, a bigger announcement would be made at the venue, the start of Nizhalattam Open Film School. “The school would admit students irrespective of age. There isn’t a permanent venue for the school. It could be anywhere, the rooftop of a building or a rented hall. It’s a three-months course with certificate. The basic idea is to offer film education at a rate affordable to all. Professionals from the film industry would handle the courses. By screening about 100 applicants, 25 were shortlisted for the first batch. They are in an interactive phase with actor/screenwriter Murali Gopy. Based on that, they would be slotted into the course they are good at,” he says. Actor and film professional Abhiram Suresh Unnithan is the creative head of the school.

The film fest also has workshops related to the subject.