Welcome to the Lucknow Short Film Festival season 2! As the curtains rise and the screens flicker to life, we embark on a journey through the magic of cinema. It is my honor to stand before you today as we celebrate not only the art of filmmaking but also the power of collaboration.
There's a quote by the legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg that resonates deeply with me: "The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves." This sentiment encapsulates the spirit of collaboration that drives this festival forward.
This year, we have joined hands with Creative First, for the Ecoflicks: Short Film Contest, and their supporter and jury collaboration is really appreciated. With the collaborative efforts of the Amren Foundation, Creative First, and International Legal Alliance, we hope to give you all the experience of a lifetime. This year, the Lucknow Short Film Festival season 2 proudly stands as a testament to the power of collaboration. Our efforts speak to a larger truth — that the arts have the power to unite us, to inspire us, and to ignite conversations that ripple through society.
From thought-provoking documentaries to mesmerizing works of fiction, each film showcased here is a testament to the collaborative spirit that transcends borders and bridges cultures. Through film, we gain new perspectives, challenge our preconceptions, and find common ground amidst our differences.
Along with the screenings of the movie, this year for the people of the city, the first day will also have a special gala sundowner for the Lucknowites, where they will walk on the red carpet. It will be the first time in India that a film festival will have a red-carpet event where the audiences can make their fashion statement. In case you have missed the Cannes event, there is a chance in your city to grab the spotlight and get the perfect shot with the perfect backdrop, this segment is curated by the Asma Hussain Institute Of Fashion Technology and Lucknow Film Forum.
In the world of cinema, collaboration is not merely a choice; it is the very essence of creativity. Filmmaking is a symphony of talents coming together — writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, musicians, and countless others — each bringing their unique perspectives and skills to the table. But beyond the boundaries of the film industry, collaboration extends its reach, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and shared visions.
As we embark on this cinematic journey together, let us not only celebrate the films on screen but also the collaborative efforts that have made this festival possible. Let us embrace the diversity of voices and visions that enrich our cultural landscape. And let us remember that in collaboration lies the true magic of cinema — the power to connect us, to move us, and to remind us of our shared humanity.
An ageing actor struggles with his mental illness and the fact that his glory days are behind him. His success days might have snubbed the voices of his inner demons before, but his mental illness puts him in a prison now with no escape possible. A loving daughter and her friend are crafting tireless efforts to give the thespian a fighting chance to salvage himself. He must find a path out of the wizardry of his own craft to atone himself and in turn his loved ones, who want him to win this war more than he does.
A mysterious illness strikes Balraj. The search for a remedy and resolution leads to a quirky and eye-opening journey which opens the door to empathise with nature .
Tathagata Deb was born deaf and dumb. Later on, he had been diagnosed with a mental illness called "Delusion Disorder". But his mother was steadfast to get him cured. Due to her relentless effort and cooperation from other family members, doctors. teachers. Tathagata is now on a steady path to recovery. His Journey is the main theme of the film. It will revolve around the various methods of treatment and training that have enabled Tathagata to get well gradually.
Seppam Thottram (Symmetrical Vision) is a short film with a new attempt in filmmaking. It is a split screen short film that shows two stories symmetrically at the same time. The first story is about a cancer patient who is in her 4th stage struggling to live her life. She underwent a major surgery, after a long procedure, the surgery ends up in success, she then enters into the new phase of life. In the second story, an upcoming actor who struggles to become successful in his career starts acting in a film as lead to prove his talent. After the completion of the shooting, the film he acted in was released and became a huge success. The struggle and the will power to live up the life without giving up is the theme of Seppam Thottram.
In "The Old Mountain", ailing elders in an old village pin their hopes on Daval Malik Dongar's healing powers. When a doctor delivers a grim prognosis for a sick grandpa, his loving granddaughter, inspired by tales from village elders, defies her parents and embarks on a poignant journey to the mystical mountain. With Marathi folk songs (ovi) accompanying each climb, the mountain becomes a metaphor for the grandpa's life—unveiling memories from youth to loss. At the summit, it transforms into a canvas of love and peace, not just a cure but the essence of a lifetime's journey.
The film centers around a northeastern girl who shares her story and experiences where she has been called mean names and discriminated against just because she doesn’t look “Indian Enough”. She points out that our athletes from Northeast India have made the entire nation proud and have emerged as the face of “Indian” sports. But the fact that the very face is deemed not “Indian enough" is ironic and shameful.
A small story of a sweet family based in Bihar and their day to day struggles spun around a motive leading to cook and relish Champaran Mutton (a local Bihari delicacy). Film also explores caste politics and discrimination as an underlined theme.
A Morning in the life of a Mother, a Wife, a Daughter, a Homemaker, a Career Woman, Every Woman.
In a bygone era in Kerala, Lekshmi finds a haunted spot in her village. Janaki's downtrodden spirit who lives there, used to torment the village before she was trapped by black magic. A parallel narrative that unfolds in the present day follows Suma, a housewife from a backward caste, trapped in an abusive marriage who finds solace in a tree. Lekshmi decides to free Janaki’s spirit in a risky move. In the present day, Suma's favourite tree is about to be cut down.
In a society driven by propaganda, a Mental Asylum is being demolished by the local political party for the construction of a tall statue of their political leader. Now there are no takers for the vagrant mental patients, there could be a threat to the society, as the patients are on the loose. The short film reflects upon the shifting priorities of our society, where hatred, propaganda and fanaticism have become a priority over logical development and issues which matter.
An unfinished romantic love story of a middle-aged man, who starts a journey to meet his old school love to announce his victory. However, a 20- year time lapse changed situations around and in the end, reality leaves the man amused. ‘Avval’ is a heartfelt story that’ll seem relatable and take you back to nostalgia.
In "Mehak," 75-year-old Veer, portrayed by the legendary actor Dharmendra , finds himself yearning for a lost love. His granddaughter, sensing his loneliness, orchestrates a heartwarming journey to reunite him with his long-lost sweetheart. Through tender moments and shared memories, the film explores themes of enduring love, family bonds, and the timeless nature of relationships. As Veer rediscovers the joy of companionship, audiences are reminded of the power of love to transcend time and generations. "Mehak" is a poignant ode to the beauty and resilience of the human heart.
The evolution in Planet Pluto, which was ignored by the human race, as the Planet itself was neglected by the mankind for not being like the other planets. There are only two living creatures living far apart and unknown to each other in the open bare terrains of Pluto. Both the creatures meet and the Big Bang of evolution in Pluto begins. We live in the world of Inequality. We have been worrying, talking and arguing about the prevailing inequality. But where could have been the Origin of the human mind to begin this? Going back to the Stone – Age, what could have been there need? Hunger was the first and undeniable need, food was needed to satisfy themselves. They started to fight for Food and Shelter, and then for lust, and then for intoxicants. So human created God to solve this, but ironically they created many Gods and again started fighting to establish their supremacy over the other. To acquire the Equality, the writer creates his own Plant Pluto. In his Planet, humans have no eyes, mouth and ears like the Three Wise Monkeys in the Japanese Pictorial Maxim. The senses that create war and enmity is void in humans making this place a peaceful Planet. Here, Time is God as we conceive Time as Gold.
