Calling all the movie buffs out there because you’re in for some brilliant cinematic experiences for FREE! This year, the much awaited HFF : Habitat Film Festival by India Habitat Centre will showcase 42 amazing feature films. Not just that, the films will be in more than 19 Indian languages with vibrant Documentaries, Shorts and Student Film segments. Now , isn’t that exciting?
Starting from 17th to 26nd May at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, this edition of this spectacular platform for Indian cinema opens with Ashvin Kumar’s much talked about recent release No Fathers in Kashmir on May 17, Friday, at 6:00 pm and closes with Devashish Makhija’s Bhonsle on May 26, Sunday, at 7:30 pm. Aiming for an approximation of the best of Indian Cinema year after year, the festival unveils a fresh selection of cinematic jewels that came out of our plural landscape in 2018-2019, affirming the transformative nature of Indian Cinema in the way it captures our diversities and heterogeneous character. HFF is steered by the Habitat Film Club under the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
A Plethora Of Films In Various Languages!
Widely anticipated for its rich yearly offerings which includes first cuts, Indian Festival Premieres and World Premieres, Debuts and Master Classes, the 10 day Film Festival is nothing short of a cinematic treat for movie enthusiasts. It showcases in its feature films section 42 Films in more than 19 languages including Marathi,Bengali, Malayalam, Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Telugu, Haryanvi, Punjabi, Assamese,Kannada, Khasi, Gaddi, Ravula, Garo, Sherdukpen, Ladakhi Kumaoni,and Santhali. And an additional 45 critically acclaimed films will be screened under the Documentaries, Shorts and Student Film segments.
Click here to find the entire schedule here.
Special Short And Student Films
The festival has grown to accommodate a rich fare of short films and student films inaddition to the documentaries. A special package of documentaries on DadasahebPhalke Awardees directed by Savita Oberoi will also be screened. A highlight ofPSBT films in the documentary segment is Prantik Basu’s Rang Mahal selected in theInternational Competition Berlinale Shorts section at the 69th Berlin International FilmFestival. HFF will also see the screening of several outstanding studentfilms including The Firefox Guardian, Glow worm in a jungle, Khela, What is thecolour of the colourless sky and many more. The films under the new Student’s Cinema Segment will witness the participation of the young and upcoming filmmakers from the Film and Television Institute Pune, Satyajit Ray Film andTelevision Institute Kolkota, AJK Mass Communication Research Centre Jamia MilliaIslamia, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication (SACAC) etc.
Master Classes By Visiting Directors And Panel Discussions
Films including Vaada Chennai, Kumbalangi Nights, Nagarkirtan, The Mosquito Philosophy, Mehsampur, Noblemen, Tarikh, The Gold Laden Sheep and theSacred Mountain, Jonaki, Lorni – The Flaneur, Baaram, Abhyakto, Death of anInsane and many more will also feature post screening conversations with their respective directors.
Master Classes by filmmakers and relevant panel discussions interspersed with the screenings are expected to drive in film lovers from the city in large numbers, making it enlightening and entertaining in equal measure. The screening of Malayalam feature Aabhasam will be followed by a panel on the #MeToo Movement and the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) in the Malayalam film industry featuring actress Rima Kallingal, director Jubith Namradath, moderated by film critic Anna M. M. Vetticad. A dedicated festival lounge offers collateral openings such as in-depth interactions between filmmakers and film scholars.
All films at the festival are Eng-subtitled. The entry to the screenings is free but requires prior registration. Online registrations commenced from May 8 onwards on www.habitatfilmclub.com. Passes can also be picked up from the Programmes Desk, IHC.
Dating back to its inauguration in the year 2005, Habitat Film Festival has experienced substantial growth over the years and has been at the forefront in drawing public attention to cinematic gems from across the country away from the glitz and glamour of Bollywood.
So, get your gang and watch some brilliant films and while you’re at it don’t forget to visit The All American Diner for some scrumptious food!
