So I have come to Goa, which is definitely not on my locations of interest due to the tourist/resort nature of the place, to attend the 42nd annual International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Getting in requires an application, letters of recommendation and approval by the Ministry of Such and Such. I met the hurdles and was accepted as a delegate few months before flying over. I had wanted to attend this Festival for a year or so but never made it.
The 10 days of unlimited films in nearly a dozen state of the art theaters cost Rs 300 (~$6.25)
While about half of the feature and non-feature films are from India, and nearly all the short films and documentaries are also produced in India, the other half are from all over.
This Festival is not for Bollywood song and dance trash, but for real Indian cinema. And while about half the delegates directors, producers and actors (and many of their films I have seen via Netflix) I have not been able to recognize any of them.
In addition to the Indian films I have focused on films from countries which we will probably never see in the US. For instance, India has very different relations with counties on the US hate list, like Burma and Iran, so I have tried to make it for those. The Iranian film makers do not talk in public though for fear that they will be exiled and not allowed to return to Iran.
Eastern Europe, former Soviet states and Russian films are well represented. In fact films of Poland was the international spotlight.
I have seen a few from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
All of the films have been a feast for the eyes and ears. The low budget and short films and docs have been the best as the soul of the story has not been diluted in the quest to 'make it big'.
The documentaries have been stunning in their impact.
In between the feast for the eyes come other feasts. While there is a heavy animal influence here in Goa, I have been able to find a number of excellent places. The finest is a traditional thali restaurant where there is no menu. You sit down in front of an empty thali (20" round tray with a dozen small bowls arranged around the edge) and a dozen servers come around in turn with all kind of dishes and fills up the thali.
Then they come around repeatedly plying you with more and more helpings. This place has been excellent, with wonderfully prepared dishes. On the first try of this restaurant the best was a dish of stewed cucumber (a close relative) and tomato that was incredible. The bindi masala (okra, tomatoes and peppers) was also incredible. Other days had other highlights such as a green pepper saute and a huge bean dish (sort of like fava beans but larger and flatter) that melted in your mouth. Rotis and puris are served for breads.
Deserts have been incredible too. India sweets are generally very subtle but very powerful. Kheer, which is rice boiled in milk until it starts to thicken, with saffron and cardamom is nothing short of celestial.
Srikhand is another classic and incredible dessert. Yogurt is hung in a cloth sack over night so all the whey drains out. the yogurt, now halfway between sour cream and cream cheese in consistency is mixed with sugar, saffron and cardamom. The result is divine.
One more day of this moving from feast to feast before its off to Umaria in Madhya Pradesh.
Getting in requires an application, letters of recommendation and approval by the Ministry of Such and Such. I met the hurdles and was accepted as a delegate few months before flying over. I had wanted to attend this Festival for a year or so but never made it.
The 10 days of unlimited films in nearly a dozen state of the art theaters cost Rs 300 (~$6.25)
While about half of the feature and non-feature films are from India, and nearly all the short films and documentaries are also produced in India, the other half are from all over.
This Festival is not for Bollywood song and dance trash, but for real Indian cinema. And while about half the delegates directors, producers and actors (and many of their films I have seen via Netflix) I have not been able to recognize any of them.
In addition to the Indian films I have focused on films from countries which we will probably never see in the US. For instance, India has very different relations with counties on the US hate list, like Burma and Iran, so I have tried to make it for those. The Iranian film makers do not talk in public though for fear that they will be exiled and not allowed to return to Iran.
Eastern Europe, former Soviet states and Russian films are well represented. In fact films of Poland was the international spotlight.
I have seen a few from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
All of the films have been a feast for the eyes and ears. The low budget and short films and docs have been the best as the soul of the story has not been diluted in the quest to 'make it big'.
The documentaries have been stunning in their impact.
In between the feast for the eyes come other feasts. While there is a heavy animal influence here in Goa, I have been able to find a number of excellent places. The finest is a traditional thali restaurant where there is no menu. You sit down in front of an empty thali (20" round tray with a dozen small bowls arranged around the edge) and a dozen servers come around in turn with all kind of dishes and fills up the thali.
Then they come around repeatedly plying you with more and more helpings. This place has been excellent, with wonderfully prepared dishes. On the first try of this restaurant the best was a dish of stewed cucumber (a close relative) and tomato that was incredible. The bindi masala (okra, tomatoes and peppers) was also incredible. Other days had other highlights such as a green pepper saute and a huge bean dish (sort of like fava beans but larger and flatter) that melted in your mouth. Rotis and puris are served for breads.
Deserts have been incredible too. India sweets are generally very subtle but very powerful. Kheer, which is rice boiled in milk until it starts to thicken, with saffron and cardamom is nothing short of celestial.
Srikhand is another classic and incredible dessert. Yogurt is hung in a cloth sack over night so all the whey drains out. the yogurt, now halfway between sour cream and cream cheese in consistency is mixed with sugar, saffron and cardamom. The result is divine.
One more day of this moving from feast to feast before its off to Umaria in Madhya Pradesh.
YUM! My mouth is watering from those great food descriptions! Film fest sounds amazing, too.
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