In memory of Trilochan and Qurratulain Hyder
THIRD GORAKHPUR FILM FESTIVAL
Sixty Years of Division and Displacements
Dear Friend,
In the year 2006 for the very first time in the history of Gorakhpur we made an attempt to organise a festival of films from peoples’ contribution. And some how we reached some where. We showed almost 20 films including short films, animation, documentaries and full length feature films. After screening of Anand Patwardhan’s film “War and Peace” we conducted a discussion session anchored by a panel of 4 people. More than 100 people participated in the discussion which lasted for 45 minutes. Around 4000 people enjoyed the screenings in the festival. At least 500 people from surrounding small towns participated in the festival. First year we dedicated our festival to the theme of Resistance in Cinema and clubbed it with 75th year of Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom. Jan Sanskriti Manch, Expression- Gorakhpur Film Society, Peoples’ Forum and PUHR (Peoples Union for Human Rights) were the main organizers of the festival. It was solely financed by individual contributions. We also released a festival brochure.
Next year, that is in the 2007 we dedicated our festival to the revolutionary memory of 1857.Apart from eminent documentary filmmakers a cultural team of Patna(Bihar) Hiraval also participated in the festival. We also organized a poster exhibition on revolutionary history of 1857 and on poetry of Gorakh Pandey. This year we have also produced an audio cd on Gorakh Pandey’s poems. The audio cd is available for sale. We showed almost 25 films including short films, animation, documentaries and full length feature films. Retrospective of famous Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi was a great success.
Dear Friend,
Now we are planning to organize 3rd Gorakhpur Film Festival. The theme of the 3rd festival is Sixty Years of Division and Displacements .Prominent documentary filmmakers like Sanjay Kak, Surabhi Sharma, Megnath, Biju Toppo, Ajay Bhardwaj, Ladli Mukhopadhay have given their consent for participation in film festival with their latest films. Famous Indian feature film “Garam Hawa” will be inaugural film of the festival. Prominent cultural group of Nainital, (Uttarakhand) Yugmanch will be actively participating in the festival with plays and folk songs. A famous Kabir Gayan Mandali from Devas(Madhya Pradesh) will also be performing in the festival. This year we are dedicating one full day for Children and Their World and also organizing a painting exhibition of Children of Gorakhpur.
The very important aspect of Gorakhpur Film Festival is its independence. As a policy we are not banking on sponsorships. We strongly believe in people’s participation. Thus the festival is solely dependent on small contributions and advertisements for the brochure. I feel proud to share this with you that this very idea of creating an independent festival is not only supported by people of Gorakhpur but like minded people of rest of India are supporting us.
Jan Sanskriti Manch has decided to develop this as a central film festival and then make it a traveling festival for the rest of the year. Last year we have organized such festivals in Gorakhpur, Allahabd and Bhilai. We are open to organize such festival in your region also.
In this context I would request you to please extend your sincere participation in the festival and join this cultural movement. You can send your contribution through demand draft/ cheque (preferably a demand draft) to Expression payable at Gorakhpur or directly give it to me in cash/cheque. For depositing cash please use following account no. No. 30008505658 in favour of Sanjay Joshi, SBI,Vasundhara Branch, Ghaziabad. For generating revenue we are also publishing a festival brochure. Please do arrange advertisement for the festival brochure. Please mail your queries for Advertisement in the Festival Brochure at our mail id (gorakhpurkafilmfestival@gmail.com).
The festival dates are February 23 to February 26, 2007. Venue is Samvad Bhawan, Gorakhpur University Campus, Gorakhpur.
Gorakhpur is very well connected to the network of Indian Railways. There are few flights from New Delhi and Mumbai. Other important cities close to Gorakhpur are Lucknow (6hr taxi drive) and Varanasi ( 5 hr taxi drive).
Please forward this appeal to your friends and like minded people and contribute with your valuable suggestions to make this cultural movement more effective and meaningful.
With warm regards,
Sanjay Joshi
Convener
3rd Gorakhpur Film Festival
Contact Address:
C- 303 Jansatta Apartments, Sector 9, Vasundhara, Ghaziabad-201012
9811577426, 0120-2885017
E mail id: gorakhpurkafilmfestival@gmail.com, joproductions@gmail.com
Expression address: Manoj Singh
Convener, Expression
216 K, Ashok Nagar, Gorakhpur, India - 273003
Mobile: 9415282206
Email: gorakhpurkafilmfestival@gmail.com mk_12@rediffmail.com
