JIFF is going to start from 7th to 11th January in hybrid mode
• Anil Mathur


 JAIPUR, 5 DECEMBER  | Surrounded by questions and doubts of COVID pandemic, 14th JAIPUR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL [JIFF] is going to take place in a hybrid mode, from 7th to 11th January 2022.

In the second list; jury members have chosen 58 films from 14 countries out of 600 films from 30 countries. Selected films include 29 INDIAN FILMS, and same number of films from other countries. It’s worth mentioning that three films come from host state RAJASTHAN, which include Ek Rajput Kisan: The Real Story directed by Dr. Bhawani Singh Rathore,The Last Call directed by RJ Mohit, 85 minutes feature fiction film Aata directed by Hemant Seervi.

 

JIFF spokesperson Rajendra Bora has asserted that chosen films include 12 Feature Fiction Films | 3 Documentaries | 37 Short Fiction Films | 4 Short Documentaries | 1 Short Animation Film | 1 Song and including 3 Student Films.

 

In first list released on 7th November, 182 films from 52 countries out of 1500 films from 82 countries were selected.

 

We witnessed such an exciting response across the world; but COVID and its new variant OMICRON related news has caused a fall in the interest in film makers, who were about to come to the Pink City. Still; the good news is that film lovers are longing to watch their favourite films; JIFF founder director Hanu Roj asserts.

Films made by big and renowned directors are selected as well. Chosen feature fiction films include -

Leader directed by Katia Priwieziencew, Igor Priwieziencew from Poland Dada Lakhmi directed by Yashpal Sharma from India Yesterday's Past directed by Nila Madhab Panda from India Dandelion Season directed by Maryam Pirband from United States,Deng’er and I  directed  by Hong Huang, Jinming Wang from China.Donkeyhead directed by Agam Darshi from Canada,4 SUM directed by NEERAJ GWAL from India ,Altar directed by Pablo Villalobos from Spain,Shunzi, Come On directed by Zhao Chunliang from China,Birthday Adventure Plan directed by Xu Chunling from China ,Waiting for the Wetland directed by Huang Hong Wang Jinming from China.

 Dada Lakhmi directed by famous artist Yashpal Sharma is based on a Musical journey of Pandit Lakhmichand. Pt. Lakhmichand was a folk artist of Haryana from district Sonipat Village Janti, Punjab,now Haryana, near Singhu Border.

 Yesterday's Past directed by Padma Shri and National Film Award winner Film maker Nila Madhab Panda director of famous film I am Kalam. Disillusioned Gunu, a young man from Satavaya village, travels relentlessly from death to death, from the memories of a past cyclone into the eye of an upcoming one hoping to reunite with his lost family. Five days before the cyclone, Gunu travels back to his now engulfed village confronting his tragic past, reliving moments as prophesied by a priest who keeps frequenting him. Gunu’s challenging survival on the abandoned coast, his very existence and struggle to survive the fury of nature makes his journey a poetic portrayal of emotional trauma and human triumph. Will Gunu survive this turmoil and be reunited with his family?

 

Donkeyhead is story of Mona (37), a failed writer, carves out a life of isolation while caring for her ailing traditional Sikh father, but when he has a debilitating stroke her three successful siblings show up on her doorstep determined to take control of the situation.

 Aata from host state Rajasthan is the struggle story of a married couple {Bhaira & Phoolan]; who are punished by the society due to inter-caste marriage that no one will give them jobs and food from the village. In the end, dying of hunger, when Phoolan goes to ask for flour for one time for her little daughter, everyone tries to force her to sleep with them in return for job. Film shows the impact of inter caste marriage and cruel side of society.