Ronita Torcato

NFDC FILM BAZAAR SHORTLISTS SIX, SETS UP NEW MARKET SECTION AT IFFI GOA 2011

NFDC's four day Film Bazaar at the International Film Festival in Goa (IFFI ) serves as a platform for producers, filmmakers and distributors from across the world to do business and expand their network. The Film Bazaar Screenwriters’ Lab 2011 held in partnership with Binger Filmlab, Netherlands and the Venice International Film Festival, Italy has announced six shortlisted projects selected during the first working session held at the Venice International Film Festival from September 1 – 3, 2011.

The second working session will be held at Film Bazaar Goa from November 24 – 27, 2011, on the sidelines of the 42nd IFFI (Nov 23- December 3 , 2011.) which will screen Film Bazaar 2010 films. Last year's Screenwriters Lab was organised with support from the 62nd Locarno Film Festival, and the Entertainment Society of Goa Projects selected for the Lab this year are – Sebastian Wants To Remember by Vasant Nath, Dear Mira by Deepti Datt, Toxic City by Aliya Curmally, Dum LagaKeHaishya by Sharat Katariya, Girls by Megha Ramaswamy and Dabba by Ritesh Batra. The workshop is aimed at preparing these screenwriters to position their screenplays internationally.

The lab advisors for the lab are Marten Rabarts (Artistic Head, Binger Filmlab), Bianca Taal (Industry Advisor, Binger Filmlab), Olivia Stewart (Producer, Writer & Script Advisor) and UrmiJuvekar (Screenwriter & Script Advisor). Film Bazaar 2011 has set up a new section Market Recommendations that will showcase films in need of gap finance, distribution partners and world sales. Films included in this program will be presented to a select audience of festival programmers, distributors, world sales agents & film funds. Filmmakers were invited to submit their rough-cut feature, documentary films prior to ‘picture lock’ at the Work-In-Progress Lab where distinguished international film experts review the rough-cut, contribute significantly in the editing process and advise on the international positioning of the project in the market. An eminent panel of international Advisors review these films with an intention to help the filmmaker achieve a substantial advance in terms of finesse through expert insights.

 The Lab was introduced in the year 2008 at FB, with an objective to position selected films in the international market. Four to five selected films will be screened at FB for the Advisers to guide the filmmaker on the best way to arrive at the final output. However, these suggestions are not binding upon the participants and they have the right to accept or discard suggestions made. In 2008, over 300 delegates from 17 countries had attended the Film Bazaar. The program provides a significant breakthrough in the editing process and other post-production needs of the film. Participants engage in collaborative discussions post screening, that are instrumental in helping the filmmaker understand the latitudes to improve his film technique as per expert response. It is motivated towards helping the filmmaker finish his project with inputs, keeping in focus the current trend and outlook thus, lending the project timeliness and relevancy.

Some projects selected in the past years have been The Damned Rain by SatishManwar, I Am Kalam by Nila Madhab Panda, As the River Flows by Bidyut Kotoky, Sahi Dhande Galat Bande by Parvin Dabbas, Baboo Band Baaja by Rajesh Pinjani. Film Bazaar attendees include Christina Marouch of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and award winning Green film-maker Mike Pandey,the Hong Kong Trade Development Corporation, Europa Cinemas,the UK Film Council, Cannes Film festival, Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival, Cannes’ Semaine de la Critique and the American Film Institute.