5th Auroville Film Festival 2017 awards

award winners 2017 the awards are ceramic art made by Priya Sundaravalli

international category of “films that develop the theme of Human Unity”

Polaroid 2015, Norway, Short, 16 min, Norwegian with English subtitles Director, Script: Thomas Larsen Otterdal Producer: Caroline Louise Østevik Watch online: http://indielux.no Jury: “... a strong invitation to all of us to take responsibility of our preconditioning”

Heritage Fight 2014, France, Documentary, 91 min, English Director, Writer: Eugénie Dumont Producers: Eugénie Dumont, Keystone Films Website: http://www.heritagefight.com Jury: “... a great story of preservation of ancestral wisdom and values”

Un Paese di Calabria 2016, France, Documentary, 91 min, French and Italian with English subtitles Directors: Shu Aiello, Catherine Catella Producer: Laurence Ansquer Trailer: https://vimeo.com/181495280 Jury: “... a wonderful example of human acceptance and openness”

Riding Love 2016, Brazil, Documentary, 4 min, Hindi with English subtitles Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktgYsUZcRTo Jury: “... an attempt at an alternative economy where joy and hapiness rather than power and money is the objective”

Elephant’s Playmate 2016, Islamic Republic of Iran, Animation, 6 min Jury: “... a great example of how a story can be told simply and directly” 2

Jury for “films that develop the theme of Human Unity”

Kavitha Urvasie A third generation Aurovilian, Kavitha, 26, is Indian/Dutch by nationality.

She studied at the Kodaikanal International School in India, receiving her International Baccalaureate and then studied Sustainable Development in the Leiden University in the Netherlands. Kavitha has focused her thesis on intentional communities through the Auroville lens in 2013, and has since been working towards connecting Auroville to the Global Ecovillage Network. She currently works at YouthLink, a service which she helped found in Auroville in 2015. YouthLink is a platform for young adults to access information for integration in Auroville and to initiate educational and community building projects together. She continuous to be interested in developing her skills as a facilitator and is eager to continue exploring holistic curriculum design for the Auroville community. She believes that there is potential for each intentional community to offer unique learning opportunities to the world and that these conscious spaces are where many solutions could be born.

Charudutta Ram Prabhudesai Charudatta Ram Prabhudesai is a Goan by birth and spirit.

He has a master’s in Fine Art (painting) , from M.S.University, Baroda .

He lives in Auroville.

Moghan (Jean Luc) Mehlem Moghan (Jeanluc Mehlem), 66 years old, was born in France and has been in Auroville for the last ten years. Previous to coming here, he worked as an actor (films and theatre), as a theatre director and as a teacher of drama.

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category of “films made by Aurovilians, bioregion residents or guests of Auroville”

Together 2016, India, Documentary, 9 min, Many languages Director: Rakhal Sound editing: Chloé Sanchez Watch online: https://vimeo.com/154319569 Jury: “... for its fantastic sound design and brilliant use of archival photographs in the edit to present a very moving film about the journey of Auroville. It was clearly able to articulate the spirit with which Auroville was manifested in a very simple manner and by using a single word in different languages like a mantra.”

Blue Boy 2016, United Kingdom/Italy, Drama, Fantasy, Adventure, 16 min, Italian with English subtitles Director and Script: Ciro Apicella Producer: Cecilia Cortes Watch online: https://vimeo.com/176142844 Jury: “This fictional film had amazing production quality and looked very professional in its overall attempt. It had a great form and definitely stands out as an inspiring example for a good collaboration.”

Inner Dialogues 2017, India, Documentary Series, 89 min, French with English subtitles Director and Script: Claire, RV Producer: Auroville Pictures Watch online: https://tinyurl.com/y73gcguj Jury: “... for its honest, direct, simple and sensitive approach to some deep experiences about Auroville. The film was successfully able to balance conviction, vulnerability, uncertainty, discovery of the interviewees and present them in a engaging narrative while visually limiting itself to just the facial expression of the interviewees.”

Be Part of the Solution and Not the Problem 2017, India, Documentary, 4 min Director and Script: Yatra Srinivassan Producer: Yatra Arts Media Website: http://www.yatraartsmedia.org/ Jury: “The film is short and sweet in effectively communicating the alternatives for reckless usage of plastic bags. It gracefully expounded a simple and hopeful solution without preaching and with a lots of positive and affirmative actions.”

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Asylum park 2017, India, 20 min, English with English subtitles Director, Script and Producer: Shanu Sharma Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolyCowFilmsIndia/? ref=page_internal Jury: “... for exploring the 'notion of refugees' in the contemporary socio political paradigm and for suggesting that 'asylum' truly resides in love and understanding between people beyond geographical boundaries. The film, unhurried in its pacing, meandered through various negotiations before finally making its point in a simple and humane manner.”

Earth and Bamboo 2016, India, Documentary, 3 min, English Director: Vimal Watch online: https://vimeo.com/160072399 Jury: “... for its great use of visuals and the rhythm of experience that it was able to conjure up with editing and music. One of the few films in which a single member crew has raised the bar of production quality of the film.“

Entre chien et loups 2017, India, Animation, Experimental, Virtual Reality, 5 min, English with French subtitles Director, Script and Producer: Tutsy NAvArAthnA Watch online: https://vimeo.com/180844241 Jury: “... for use of virtual film making as new way for storytelling. The virtual technology and the creativity has come together to make a piece of art. The film in an engaging and unique manner makes a strong comment about the past and the contemporary political scenario in the world which pose challenges to the Human Unity.”

Path that leads nowhere 2017, Iran, Documentary, Experimental, 39 min, French and Persian with English subtitles Director: Omid, Seyed Habib Hashemi Script and Producer: Rekhneh Collective Telegram: https://t.me/rekhnehcollective Jury: “This experimental film wishes to break away from the so called narrow confines of a stream lined narrative while engaging the audience in bigger political questions. The film thus asserts the very liberty in its form which it so deeply negotiates in its content through the film makers as art practitioners.”

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category of “films made about Auroville / bioregion”

Aurovilles Kinder (Auroville’s Children) 2017, Germany, Documentary, 40 min, English and French with English subtitles Director: Nora Große Harmann Producers: Christoph Bockisch, Nora Große Harmann Website: https://www.startnext.com/aurovilleskinder/en Jury: “... for poising direct and delicate questions to the future of Auroville, its children. The film through such exercise was able to elucidate the connection and relevance of Auroville in their lives and at the same time was able to present a glimpse of their journey of Self discovery. The film witnessed their debilitations as a silent listener, without making hasty judgments and at the same time giving them enough space to express themselves. It presented the audience with a good insight, as Auroville turns 50.”

Unique Towns - Auroville 2016, Singapore, Documentary, 47 min, English and Mandarin with English subtitles Director: Pang Zhi Tsung Producer: August Pictures Pte Ltd Jury: “... for presenting a comprehensive episode on Auroville. The film was consistent in its energy it displayed while engaging and discovering Auroville. Further, as a rare moment in such films, the Anchor of the show displayed a beautiful openness while reflecting/ contemplating about her life while experiencing Auroville. Such acts, in an sensitive manner reflects the integrity of this well made film.”

Tree House Community 2017, India, Documentary, 4 min, English Director: Jonak Chakrabarti Website: http://www.treehousecommunity.net Jury:”... for its playful portrayal of the community work with very good visuals, music, narration and edit. The film had a very pleasant and inviting appeal to its audience through its montage of shots. The film was able to capture the free spirit of the community and at the same time, promised great adventure in its team work. A very well done film.”

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Ecovillage Design Education Documentary Auroville 2017, India, Documentary, 20 min, English Directors: Serena Aurora, Eugénie Dumont Watch online: http://bit.ly/2z3I3tB Jury: “... in recognition of the spirit of film making and constant engagement of the film makers with the medium. The film communicates the activity of the program in a imaginative and interesting manner.”

The Mother 2016, India, Documentary Series, 6 x 6 min, French with English subtitles Director: Fred Cebron Watch online: https://vimeo.com/190356522 Jury: “... very special as it records the testimonies of people who had met and interacted with The Mother. As Auroville celebrates the 50th Anniversary, the memory of direct experience with Mother is very important for the new Aurovillians and for the friends of Auroville. This series of films act as nuggets of memory repositories which are direct and can be easily assimilated by the audience.”

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category of “films made by students of Auroville/bioregion”

DotA 2 Tribute 2017, Music Video, India, 3 min, English Director: Masha Script: Masha, Narayan, Bhavyo Producer: Aurevan Jury: “... for the evocative mise-en-scene and graceful choreography of its performers. The film was imaginative in its use of location, the fire, light, costume and colour. The film was able to capture the drama of the movement of the performers and playfully juxtaposed it with a Video Game.”

Open Your Eyes 2017, India, 4 min, English Director and Producer: Aran Yardeni Script: Yam Yardeni, Aran Yardeni Watch online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcNM4GcM3ts Jury: “This film is a mature attempt to bring our attention to the beauty that surrounds us which we take for granted. The film urges us to be a part of such activity which will nurture human understanding about our world exponentially. The film also makes a poignant statement about the danger of losing the nature and beauty around us, if we do not appreciate and act to preserve them.”

A Collection of Animations 2017, Animation, Experimental, India, 20 min, English Directors and Script: Asia, Claire, Madu, Sarah, Jasmine, Surya, Milo, Eden, Mael, Pele, Eunsu, Jason, Nadir, Satyavan, Sita Producer: Auroville Film Festival – Education Outreach Programme Jury: “ This bouquet of films were beautifully done by the students by frugal use of everyday material to tell small stories. It showed the creativity and fearless experimentation that these young minds are willing to engage in. It is a effective demonstration of the skills that they had acquired to use moving images.” audience award

Trashion Show 2017, Documentary, India, 8 min Director: Masha 8

Jury for “films made by Aurovilians, bioregion residents or guests of Auroville” “films made about Auroville and/or the bioregion” “films made by students of Auroville and/or of the bioregion”

Radhika Khanna Radhika Khanna is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Electronic Media and Mass Communication, Pondicherry University. She has a PhD from AJK MCRC, Jamia Millai Islamia, New Delhi. She has been working since three decades in the field of ‘Communication for Social Change’ and ‘Theatre-in-Education’. Her specialisations are in film studies, documentary films, photojournalism and digital journalism.

Aravindan.G.P. Aravindan.G.P. is an alumni of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. His works, both in fiction and non-fiction are well received. The films he has collaborated as a cinematographer has been screened in many festivals, apart from being selected for the Indian National Award.

He was recently selected for Kyoto Film Makers Lab, to shoot a small Jidaigeki film with an international crew. His interest lies in telling good stories which portrays the transcending nature of human spirit. He strongly believes that Auroville and Pondicherry will play a pivotal role in Future Cinema and in contributing to the Indian Cinema Theory.

Jeanluc Buro Aſter studying cinema at the University Paris VII, DoP and lighting at evening courses of the Idhec (Institute of Higher Cinematographic Studies), I turned to report photography: Early 80s, aſter a trip in Brazil I was rewarded with an exhibition at the “Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie” of Arles and press releases In the 80s and 90s, for the women’s and musical press, I shot numerous portraits of rock stars and cultural figures in Paris and London.

While continuing to take photos and make videos for the large company corporate communication, I have turned towards the teaching and production of very short meditative formats in connection with Indian spirituality.

This year I realized the ‘live broadcast’ of the European Kundalini Yoga festival.

I also teach cinema and video communication at a French engineering school and facilitate workshops in a cultural community setting.

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http://filmfestival.auroville.org 10