1000 days and a dream, a film on people’s struggle against the Coca Cola bottling plant in Plachimada (Kerala) set the tone on the first day of Voices from Waters 2007, an international film festival on water, on Thursday.
   The opposition to the plant — that started after residents of the village noticed depleting groundwater levels due to the borewells dug up in the plant premises — was traced in the 90-minute film through interviews with the villagers, protests, rallies and conventions held against commercialisation of water. 1000 days and a dream is directed by P Baburaj and C Saratchandran.
   In a post-film interaction with the viewers, Saratchandran said though the villagers were still on a relay hunger strike in front of the plant, the latter part of the agitation was “dominated” by people who were not directly affected by the plant. The festival is being organised by Bangalore Film Society, in association with Arghyam, Films for Freedom, Water Journeys, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Ithaca College and Urban Research Centre. Earlier, the festival kicked off with the screening of children’s films.
   Satyajit Ray’s Ganashatru was also screened in the afternoon.
   The inaugural film of the festival was We corner people from Nepal, directed by Kesang Tseten.
   The festival was inaugurated by actress Nandita Das, who spoke on the need to conserve water to battle the ongoing water crisis.
   Eminent playwright Girish Karnad called for more educative films on subjects including water conservation.
   The films will be screened between 10 am and 8 pm till June 11 at Gurunanak Bhavan, Vasanthnagar. Entry will be free. For more details, call 25493705/ 98862 13516.