9th Ocean's Cinefan Festival showcases the sensibilities of Asian and Arabic Cinema

July 20: Starting from Friday, the 9 th Ocean’s Cinefan festival showcases some of the most characteristic films made by the notable film makers from Asia and Arab. This year the focus will be on Japanese and Arabic films reflecting the socio-cultural ethos of the region.

During ten-days long festival about 140 films from 30 countries are planned to be screened at New Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium and PVR movie theatres which have teamed up with the film festival for the first time.

As earlier, there will be panel discussions, seminars, exhibitions, talent hunt for the most promising young film makers from South Asia. At the same time various other cultural programmes are on schedule to lure the world wide audience.

The most important and unique part of the film-festival is the Lifetime Achievement Award for script writer and film critic in the creation and promotion of the film making. This is probably the only film festival that recognizes film critics, journalists, and script-writers with such awards.

First time launched in the year 1999, the festival since then is one of the best platform for filmmakers of Asia and Arab countries to display their cinematic excellence. The festival presents films in different categories including intolerance, cross cultural encounter, Arabesque or films from Arab world and Frescoes that constitute some modern-day films of the region.

This year the festival will pay a tribute to the eminent Japanese filmmaker Kenji Mizoguchi by screening 9 of his best films. Also celebrating the 150 th anniversary of India’s First War of Independence 1857, a number of films dealing the struggle for freedom in Arab and Asia have also been included in the list.

Apart from a socio-cultural exchange film festivals in India and abroad set a stage for discussing some common issues and later develop better economic as well political ties between different nations. This is one of the important reasons that attract different organisations besides government to participate and promote such events.