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FULMARXX-Short films’ festival- 2nd day, 2nd session.

I thought somebody would cover this event. I waited but nothing happened. So here i am giving some details on fulmarxx. Friends, I am not a journalist so I have no experience of covering events. I am giving some details and my random thoughts on Fulmarxx- short films festival organized by MICA-EDC on 26-27th april, 2007 at Ahmedabad. This post is as per viewer's eye.

I wanted to catch whole event, but due to my personal and professional commitments; I watched only last session of fulmarxx short film festival. The Last session featured full shorts which had duration around 45 minutes.

1. Mid-shot (hindi)- It was about principles of Gandhiji and Nathuram Godsay and its relation to today's world. I liked it because of its pace, editing and music.

2. Kachra (hindi/telugu). The story is about street boys, a girl and child abusement. Concept was good but I did not find satisfying story. I was impressed by real locations' shoot.

3. Samanjas (Gujarati)- the meaning of Asamanjas is “to be in state to not decide anything” so Samanjas is opposite to that meaning. The film had good concept/messaage “one needs vivacity to live ;not organs” but overall treatment was average. Acting was not good. It was like school play. But when the end credits rolled I became happy and also sad that all the main protagonists in the film were deaf and dumb in real life. It was brave effort by director Samir Jagot.

4. If Ever (English)- This was like real professional film. But sometimes it became boring also. Might subject need that type of treatment? It was about changing relationship of husband and wife. It had some known faces like Vivek Madan, Librarian of Lage raho munnabhai and a guy who played lover of Perizzad in Joggers' park. It had good performances also.

5. Ek lamha (Hindi)- It was like 90s' doordarshan TV serial. Though director Anuradha Singh had done hard work for locations, music and story details; I felt it was little long (it had two full length songs). But it had good performance by Joysen Gupta (main actor in Govind Nihalani's Deham) as one of the leading actors.

So most of the long shorts have noble messages and different treatments to convey those messages.

Now, the prize distributions:
Jury member Makarand Deshpande was as funny as his dressing. He was trying to make atmosphere cool and energetic while prize distribution ceremony. He said “to make a film is very difficult” as Satyajit Ray said” a simple theme allows you to add hundred details to make it much better. Onir was shy as his personality said and told he had fun while watching the films. There were other two respected judges Mr. Iftekhar Ahmed and chairman of MICA.

The winners:
Best Screenplay - PLAYGROUND by EVE SPENCE, Australia.
Best Cinematography - GOODNIGHT by GEETIKA NARANG, Noida.
Best Editing - YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE by PRADIPTA BHATTACHARYA, Kolkata.
Best Director - PLAYGROUND by EVE SPENCE, Australia.
Best MICROSHORT - MADE IN JAPAN by CIRO ALTABAS, Spain.
Best MINISHORT - SEXY THING by DENNI PENTACOST, Australia.
Best LONGSHORT - YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE by PRADIPTA BHATTACHARYA, Kolkata.
Best FULLSHORT - IF EVER by ULLHAS TAYADE
BEST FILM OF FESTIVAL - YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE by PRADIPTA BHATTACHARYA, Kolkata.
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE- SWATI SEN from IF EVER.
for more details : www.fulmarxx.net

and then thanks giving by organizer- Shiladitya bora and pictures of all the participants were taken.

So fulmarxx had entries from all over the world and it was reasonabally successful festival as mentioned by organizers. And at last I was happy that something related to cinema encouragement is happening in the Ahmedabad- the city of business. I hope I would be participant in next event.

As I was not participant or jury member, and it had been around 12o'clock midnight; I left immediately, kicked my splendor and rushed to nearest masala dossa joint.
-Shailesh Limbachiya