Renowned Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi is scheduled to be a part of the third edition of Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) which starts from October 31.
Guwahati International Film Festival, organized by the state government-owned Jyoti Chitraban in association with Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute (DBHRGFTI), will be organized in Guwahati from October 31 – November 6.
Confirming this, Pabitra Margherita, chairman of Jyoti Chitraban, said that they are extremely lucky to get the nod of the veteran filmmaker.
“Zanussi’s participation is itself a great moment for Guwahati International Film Festival. We are lucky to have him as the chief guest and I think for the filmmakers and film lovers who attend the festival, it will be a lifetime experience to interact with the legend. I am looking forward for it,” Margherita told The News Mill.
Along with Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Kieślowski and Jerzy Skolimowski Zanussi is one of the most important Polish auteur of his generation. Zanussi’s erudite dramas chronicle the challenges of a post-war, educated class in Poland grappling with the country’s radical change to communism, the burden of their forbearers, and the evolving development of society through the 20th century.
The 80-year-old Zanussi is also a professor at the Silesian University in Katowice, Poland.
Some of the highly acclaimed films of Zanussi are Życie Rodzinne (Family Life), Za Scianą (Behind the Wall), Iluminacja (Illumination), Barwy Ochronne (Camouflage) and Spirala (Spiral) which were made in the 1970s.
“Zanussi is one of Europe’s foremost filmmaker emerged in Poland alongside Andrej Wajda after the 2nd world war. Witnessed himself the persecution of the Nazis during his childhood from close proximity, Zanussi studied Physics and Philosophy in later years and influences of this period and his scarred childhood often surfaced in his films. He explores very often the purpose of our being in this world besides exploring many philosophical and political themes in body of work. The cinema of this cerebral filmmaker will be pleasure to watch and also pleasure to listen to his Q&A session,” noted film critic Bitopan Borborah told The News Mill.
Apart from that, Margherita also said that several ambassadors from the Latin American countries which is the ‘Region of Focus’ are also likely to take part in the festival which will continue till November 6.
“We have also opened the registration for the delegates both the online and offline. The film lovers can log-in in our website and get the registration done,” he added.
Last year, more than 6,000 people registered for the festival and this year the organizers are expecting even more.
Festival director Monita Borgohain said that the competition section this year has been extended to the pan India unlike the previous two years.
“Earlier, we used to have only northeast films in the competition segment. Now, we are going big with the participation of the films from across the country. We have got good number of entries and some of the best in the recent time. The competition will be really tough and interesting,” she said.
Borgohain said that the preparation has reached the final stage for the event. “After the successful two years, the level of expectations of the people has gone higher. So, we have to work harder to meet that expectation,” she added.
