A group of female directors, who have already carved a mark of their own, would climb on to a platform of prominence at the 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala. The festival would feature the films of as many as 35 women directors under various categories.
Among the 14 films that would be screened as part of the ‘International Competition’ section, four are made by women. I Still Hide to Smoke directed by Rayhana, reflects the Algerian filmmaker’s vivid repertoire; while Malila - The Farewell Flower , based on Buddhism and the traditional bai-shee art of Thailand, is directed by Anucha Boonyawatana. Symphony for Ana , directed by Virna Molina and Ernesto Ardito, discusses the wrath of military dictatorship. Wajib , directed by Annemarie Jacir, is an urban road movie set and shot among the Arab community of Israel.
After The War is scripted and directed by Annarita Zambrano. The film, which was screened as part of the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, revolves around the complicated socio-political atmosphere in Italy. Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze have collaboratively directed Birds are Singing in Kigali . Teresa Villaverde’s Colo is a family drama about relationships in the modern society. Marco Dutra’s and Juliana Rojas’ Good Manners , is a take on the mysterious lives of two women. Claire Denis, the legendary filmmaker from France marks her comeback with Let the Sunshine In after a gap of four years. Previewed at the Cannes Film Festival, I am Not a Witch is directed by Rungano Nyoni.
Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari through their film Looking for Oum Kulthum narrate the plight of an Iranian woman artist in exile. The film by Mouly Surya, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is about a widow who lives in an isolated island. Léonor Serraille’s Montparnasse Bienvenue , premiered at the Un Certain Regard at Cannes Film Festival. Oh Lucy ! by Atsuko Hirayanagi, portrays a lonely lady, who goes out in search of her lover.
The contradiction of love of body and the spirit is represented in On Body and Soul by Ildikó Enyedi. Cristina Pinheiro’s Menina , Agnieszka Holland’s Spoor , Ana Urushadze’s Scary Mother , Carla Simon’s Summer 1993 , Maria Sadowska’s The Art Of Loving , Zaza Urushadze’s The Confession , and Cecilia Atán’s and Valeria Pivato’s The Desert Bride are the distinguished films in the category.
There are three female directors in the category of ‘Country Focus: Brazil’. Necropolis Symphony by Juliana Rojas, Kill Me, please by Anita Rocha de Silviera, Stories That Our Cinema Did (Not) Tell by Fernanda Pessoa are the films in the section.
