Key Festival Topics

(N ot limited to the below)

Tr ansnational Feminism, Film and Media

This session will explore the resurgence and evolution of transnational feminism beginning with movies like M other India (India), M uthi Bhar Chawal (Pakistan),Two W omen (Italian/H ollywood), M irch M asala (India) juxtaposed against films epitomizing hegemonic representations of masculinities such as M aula Jutt (especially the older version), and Last Tango in Paris etc. The conversation will focus on feminist narratives and discourse in response to the cultures of objectification, commodification and violence as depicted, positioned and glorified in film and across the media landscape. W hat are the challenges and complexities of gendered movements in transnational contexts (including transnational media) in light of movies like Gone Girl vis-à-vis its feminist interpretation as well as backlash.

Footpr ints on the Sands of Time: Ar ab Women in Liter ature vis- vis War, Resilience, Exile & Identity

This session focuses on a conversation about A rab women in literature and will kick off by shedding light on the prevailing perspectives about gender and race ?in the light of the so-called end of the colonial era & birth of modern wars, conflict and world politics. The session will discuss the evolution of literature by women in the context of resilience, exile, tackling gender inequalities and how especially man-made conflict has weaponized gender. It will further explore exilic identities and women?s subjugation, where each panelists will share perspectives on how storytelling (both fiction and poetry) has been enriched through