INDIAN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL, JUNE 15-19, 2009 IN THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE, ADDIS ABABA

PROGRAMME

Monday, June 15, 2009

1830 hrs.                      Inauguration of the Documentary Film Festival by lighting of traditional lamp

1835 hrs.                      Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr. Gurjit Singh, Ambassador of India to Ethiopia and Djibouti

1840 hrs.                      Inaugural address by the Chief Guest

1845 hrs.                      “Elections in India – A Mammoth Democratic Exercise”, (34 minutes)

                                    General Elections concluded in India in April-May 2009.  The film depicts how this mammoth exercise is undertaken by the Election Commission of India.

1920 hrs.                      “Pather Panchali” (30 minutes)

“Pather Panchali” is one of the greatest Indian films made. The documentary tries to explain the contemporaneity of the film even after fifty years.

1950 hrs.                      Reception

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

1830 hrs.                      “Musical Bands of India”, (31 minutes)

The film depicts musical traditions of India epitomizing unity in diversity with music from various parts of the country

1900 hrs.                      “Back to Gondwanaland” (38 minutes)

The film speaks about timeless bonds of friendship that India has with Africa and tries to discover India’s evolutionary heritage

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

1830 hrs.                      “The Story of Gitanjali” (30 minutes)

A documentary based on Rabindranath Tagore’s collection of poems which he translated into English. The documentary speaks about how Rabindranath won the Nobel Prize for Literature

1900 hrs.                      “Ismat and Annie”  (28 minutes)

Story of two people who contributed to Indian literary landscape despite turmoil in their personal lives, evoking nostalgia in India and other countries who have cultural similarities with India

Thursday, June 18, 2009

1830 hrs.                      “The Sky is not the Limit” (31 minutes)

The film revolves around the work of Department of Space and Indian Space Research Organization and India’s achievements in the field of launching indigenous remote sensing satellites

1900 hrs.                      “Dismantling the Digital Divide”, (38 minutes)

                                    The film showcases the progress made by India to use technology to transform the rural poor and underprivileged

Friday, June 19, 2009

1830 hrs.                      “Friends for Evermore”  (27 minutes)

The film depicts India’s contribution in the capacity building of Africa, Latin America and other countries through ITEC programme which results in building bridges

1900 hrs.                      “A Short History of Indian Spices”  (30 minutes)

                                    The film seek to approach various aspects of Indian history, society and culture through the evocative lens of spices

Conclusion of Documentary Film Festival