17082024-LSTL-01.qxd 8/16/2024 9:28 PM Page 1 c m y b POSTER OF GOAT RELEASED Makers of Thalapathy Vijay-starrer The Greatest of All Time (GOAT) unveiled a new poster, ahead of the trailer release. On Independence Day, the makers took to Instagram to share the new poster along with the date of the trailer release. The poster shows Vijay in action zone with a gun in his hand. TRIBUNE The coach Life Hollywood star Nicolas Cage will play John Madden, an American football coach, in an upcoming film by director David O Russell. Titled Madden, the film comes from Amazon MGM Studios. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 17 AUGUST 2024 PHOTOS: LALIT KUMAR SEEMA BISWAS SHOWTIME IN Shimla Nonika Singh O TT may have brought the world of entertainment to our doorstep, but real cinema still remains out of our grasp. To bridge the gap between cinephiles’ hunger for pure cinema and the avenues available for satiating the desire to watch quality cinema, the International Film Festival of Shimla was conceived by Pushp Raj Thakur, festival director, and Devkanya, creative director, among others. As the three-day International Film Festival of Shimla moves into its 10th edition, it stands as an epitome of inclusivity and broad vision. Showcasing no less than 105 films from 27 countries with simultaneous screenings happening, it’s an amalgamation of short films, animation features, documentaries and, of course, feature films. If the festival got rolling with Bandit Queen-fame actress Seema Biswas-starrer Mrs Tendulkar, directed by Alok Verma, which examining the life of an elderly widow, it will end on Sunday with yet another cinematic gem, The Borders Never Die, by Iranian filmmaker Hamidreza Arjomandi. A poignant look at families forced to cross borders due to the war in their homeland, it circles around the challenging journey of a Kurdish couple from Iraqi Kurdistan. Migration, a burning issue, is also the subject of Iranian short film Survivor by Karim Azimi. In fact, a large number of films from Iran make the cut at the festival. Iranian cinema, which has been the toast of connoisseurs worldwide, is represented by Farshad Golsefidi’s film Seven Citrus Aurantium, among others. As the three-day International Film Festival of Shimla moves into its 10th edition, it stands as an epitome of inclusivity, showcasing 105 films from 27 countries Films have been selected by illustrious jury members such as Bina Paul, Arik Moran, Sarv Chetan Katoch, and others, from online applications. The representation from India is as diverse as the diversity of our nation with films from as many as 22 states. Among the vast array of films from Maharashtra to Assam to Kerala to Tripura, also stands delectable and much-lauded Malayalam film Manjummel Boys, an engaging survival thriller. The region finds a place of prominence with Indu Shekhar’s Luv Ka Love from Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Madhusudanan’s Random Beats from Haryana and Kaina by Aaryaveer Singh, who happens to be from Chandigarh. And how can makers from the home state of the festival lag behind? From Himachal Pradesh, there is Dhroov Ki Ghaas by Preety Sharma, Ek Ajeeb Dastaan by REGIONAL FLAVOUR Film Luv Ka Love Random Beats Kaina Dhroov Ki Ghaas Ek Ajeeb Dastaan Beyond Purpose Director Indu Shekhar Manoj Madhusudanan Aaryaveer Singh Preety Sharma Anuroop Chatterjee Pal Garun Dhiman Anuroop Chatterjee Pal, and Beyond Purpose, a documentary by Garun Dhiman. The main aim of the festival is to provide a platform to filmmakers and also to inculcate love for world cinema at a young age. For this purpose, a separate section, Bachpan, with a focus on films for children has been initiated. And for those already bitten by the cinema bug, master classes with renowned filmmakers will deepen their understanding of cinema. Cinema is as much a reflection of the current times as a record of times gone by. Big B’s baritone voice resounds in Borders Create Widows, a documentary about the life of martyrs’ families, directed by Maya Chandra. Usha Despande’s Discovering Devika, a documentary on the first lady of Indian cinema Devika Rani, is yet another high- 70th National Film Awards: Rishab Shetty named Best Actor, Sooraj Barjatya honoured as the Best Director Punjab shining Punjabi film Baghi Di Dhee won the ‘Best Punjabi Film’ Award at the 70th National Film Awards. Directed by Mukesh Gautam, the film stars Dilnoor Angel, Vikram Chouhan and Kuljinder Singh Sidhu. An elated Mukhesh Gautam shares with The Tribune, “This is the win of the entire team — the cast, technicians and everyone who became part of this challenging project.” This is Gautam’s third feature film after Akhiyaan Udeekdian (2009) and Ek Noor (2011). He has been a part of the film industry for the last 30 years. He also has to his credit a number of documentaries. Baghi Di Dhee is based on a story by Gurmukh Singh Musafir. The film takes a page from the Ghadar movement. The film narrates the story of a courageous daughter of a freedom fighter who avenges her father’s sacrifice. “Making a period film needs one of the two — enormous budget like Baahubali makers or passion. With a limited budget and resources, it is the result of mad zeal that Baghi Di Dhee was born,” says Gautam, who created time period of a century ago near Chandigarh itself. — Mona THE JURY MEMBERS Lighting up the screen AnshitaMehra The 70th National Film Awards, announced on Friday in the national capital, honoured the best cinematic achievements, with a diverse range of films, actors, and crews being celebrated from across the country. Punjabi film Baghi Di Dhee was lauded as the Best Punjabi Film, while Gulmohar, starring Sharmila Tagore and Manoj Bajpayee, took home the award for the Best Hindi Film and received a Special Mention. The film's impactful storytelling also earned it the Best Screenplay award. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting revealed the winners on Friday in New Delhi. The winners, including the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, will be honoured by President Droupadi Murmu in a ceremony scheduled for October 2024. In a major win for the South Indian film industry, KGF Chapter 2 and Kantara dominated key categories. Kantara, directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, secured the Best Actor award for Shetty's powerful performance. The film's compelling narrative also led to it being named the Best Kannada Film. KGF Chapter 2, starring Yash, not only won the Best Action Direction Award for its outstanding stunt choreography but also emerged as the Best Kannada Film. The Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 was another standout, sweeping four major awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Sound c m y b State J&K Haryana Chandigarh HP HP HP Design, Best Music Direction for AR Rahman and Best Tamil Film. Brahmastra Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, emerged as a significant winner in the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) category, showcasing the film's cutting-edge visual effects. The movie's music also garnered widespread acclaim, with Pritam winning the Best Music Direction award and Arijit Singh taking home the Best Male Playback Singer award for his soulful rendition of the hit track Kesariya. The Best Female Playback Singer award was given to Bombay Jayashri for the Malayalam film Saudi Vellakka. The Haryanvi film Fouja won the Best Debut Film of a Director award and also secured Best Lyrics. point. In the digital era, Manohar Singh Bisht’s In Search of Fading Canvas, explores the dying art of painting billboards. Apart from being supported by the NFDC and Films Division of India, Bitchitra Collective: Indian Women in Documentary, a growing organisation of 400 plus filmmakers of Indian origin too makes a distinctive contribution to the festival. Nundrisha Wakhloo and Daksh Punj’s Brair Kani is one such film from the collective that explores an ancestral home in Kashmir through an attic! Subjects that are being explored in the films at the festival cover an entire gamut. From existential ones to concerns like transgender issues, patriarchy and loneliness of the elderly…as Steve Martin said, “All of life’s riddles are answered in the movies.”