PSBT 'Open Frame' is here again

Public Service Broadcasting Trusts annual festival is a great way to watch some of the best documentary films

Get ready for the 12th edition of the PSBT festival of documentary films – Open Frame 2012. Public Service Broadcasting Trust is hosting its annual film festival and forum from September 7 to 11, in collaboration with, and at, the India International Centre (IIC).

Documentary lovers can look forward to an interesting selection of 34 films, interaction with their makers, film critics, scholars and Prof Suresh Chabria’s quintessential film appreciation workshops.

PSBT – a non-governmental, not for profit trust has commissioned, produced and mentored over 500 films with 350 independent filmmakers across India, over the last decade. Its annual fest ‘The Open Frame’ has always been a rich and stimulating space for exploring significant socio-political concerns through the medium of cinema. In keeping with this tradition, the festival, this time as well, will showcase some of its recently produced films on a diversity of subjects.

On the first day, PSBT enthusiasts can look forward to seven films under the theme of ‘The Politics of Freedom.’ These include Whistles and Bullets by Devi Prasad Mishra – a film on the eight RTI whistle-blowers who were killed in 2010, Freedom Song by Paranjoy Guha Thakurta on freedom of expression on social media, Nirnay by Pushpa Rawat on the life of educated women in lower-middle class India, and many others.

Next, eight films will be screened on the subject ‘The State of Surveillance and the Contested Self’ which include Tales from a place less travelled: Azamgarh by Shakeb Ahmed, This or that particular person by Subasri Krishnan on the Unique Identity Number Project, The right to live by MS Sathyu on Capital punishment, etc.

On the third day, films under the theme of ‘Burdens of Modernity’ will be showcased. These include Rice and Rasam by Ramachandra P N on the struggles of a touring theatre company to keep themselves relevant, Memories and forgetfulness by Ani Thomas on migration, Stir, fry and simmer by Vani Subramaniam on rising food prices, amongst many more. Stir, fry… the last film will be followed by a discussion on the subject ‘The politics of food’ with Anjali Bhartia, professor of Sociology at Lady Sri Ram College.

On the last two days, PSBT fans can view a number of other acclaimed documentary films, enjoy discussions with their makers and learn the history of filmmaking with Prof Suresh Chabria. For more details on Open Frame, visit www.psbt.org.