We are proud to present a selection of films from the International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala at DocumentaMadrid.
While India is well known for producing nearly 2000 feature narratives a year, little is known about the vibrant documentary movement. With its early beginnings in our colonial past, documentary films are today produced widely and used both for information dissemination and as a means of creatively engaging with subjects.
Since the late eighties with the emergence of video and subsequently digital technology, more practitioners have taken to this form of storytelling.
The International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala was started twelve years ago to encourage this burgeoning film culture. While it places emphasis on the documentary as a creative form, the festival recognizes its importance as a catalyst for social resistance and change. An annual event, the IDSFFK is organized by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Government of Kerala.
The selection of documentaries to be screened look at Contemporary India through the lens of the filmmaker. The festival has chosen these films from hundreds of submissions. Films on local culture, music, painting and some just musings make up
the selection at Madrid.
Seeing India and the world through the eyes of an artist is an amazing experience and we truly hope that filmmakers and friends are drawn to exploring not just Kerala and the IDSFFK, but all documentary films from India as well.
Bina Paul
Vice Chairperson & Artistic Director
International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala