Mumbai, July 27: The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023 (IFFM) is set to captivate audiences with a compelling showcase of Bengali cinema, celebrating the creativity and thought-provoking narratives from the eastern Indian region. Renowned for its commitment to promoting South Asian cinema, IFFM is proud to announce a carefully curated selection of Bengali films that will take center stage both in cinema halls and the digital realm.
This year, IFFM proudly presents the following handpicked Bengali films:
Directed by Saibal Mitra, set against the backdrop of Kolkata, the film follows the lives of seemingly unconnected individuals whose destinies become intertwined by a series of mysterious events. The film stars Soumitra Chattopadhyay, Naseeruddin Shah, Amrita Chattopadhyay, Sramon Chatterjee.
Directed by Indrasis Acharya, Niharika (In the Mist) is trying to find a voice beyond her experience of a dark and abusive childhood. She is in the pursuit of an identity to embody, and the incidental discovery of a home, that is tangible, metaphoric and meaningful. The cast includes Shilajit Majumdar, Anuradha Mukherjee, Mallika Majumdar, Anindya Sengupta.
Chithi (The Letter) (Short Film)
The Letter, directed by Pubali Chaudhuri, is a powerful short film that delves into the nuances of human relationships. A lonely old lady spends her time lost in memories and forgetting. The arrival of a salesman offers her a break. But is the man out to con her? And why won’t she let the man leave?. The cast includes Chaiti Chaudhuri, Tuhin Mukherjee.
Ghasir Banshi (Madan Veri – Breath of the Ghasis) (Short Film)
Ghasir Banshi, directed by Somnath Mondal, the film is a documentation of the struggle to preserve the heritage of Madan Veri alias ‘Turi’, a metallic blowing instrument producing a very loud and distinct sound, played by a singular sub-caste called ‘Ghasis’ during specific Hindu rituals or delivering messages since centuries in the Manbhum region of the state of Jharkhand and West-Bengal (India).
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023 will be held from August 11th to 20th and promises to be a celebration of cinematic excellence, cultural diversity, and captivating storytelling. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2023 (IFFM) is an annual film festival based in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 2010, IFFM is one of the largest Indian film festivals outside India, celebrating the vibrant world of Indian cinema and promoting cultural diversity through film. The festival showcases a diverse selection of Indian films and provides a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their talent.
