Women filmmakers steal the show at IFFK

Amid all the hullabaloo, women filmmakers are making their presence felt at the International Film Festival of Kerala. Yesim Ustaoglu, Vidhu Vincent and Santwana Bardoloi are three women whose films have been selected in the international competition category.

Clair Obscur, the film directed by Turkish writer-director Yesim Ustaoglu throws light on the Turkish society, modern and traditional, that repress women, the film says the tale of two women, Chenaz and Elmas from completely different backgrounds confront their need for love and self-determination. 'The Trace' and 'Journey to the Sun' two films made by the director had courted controversy in 1994 and 1999.

Vidhu Vincent, the first female director from Kerala to make it to the competition category of the IFFK, narrates the story of manual scavengers in Kerala through her movie ‘Manhole' . The film is about the plight of people who belong to the Arundhadiyar caste that had migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the 1920s.

‘Midnight Keteki’ is another film to be screened under the International competition category, the film is directed by Santwana Bardoloi, an acclaimed radio and theatre actress from Assam.

A few other movies that has got the attention of movie cinephiles are  ‘Daisies’ directed by Vera Chytilova. The 1966 movie laid the foundation for the Czech New Wave movement. 

Deepa Mehta’s ‘Anatomy of Violence’ and Konkona Sen Sharma’s directorial debut ‘A Death in The Gunj’ will also be screened at IFFK.

• IFFK
• Kerala
• Women directors