The second day of the Cineaste International Film Festival of India (CIFFI 2023/24) unfolded with a burst of glamour, enriching panel discussions, and captivating film screenings spanning diverse genres. The highlight of the day was the esteemed presence of Mr Vipin Sharma, a renowned film actor, adding glamour to the prestigious CIFFI in its 5th edition.
The sunny day witnessed an exclusive interaction titled “Vipin Ki Chaupal” in the Amphitheatre of Delhi Metropolitan Education. Mr Sharma, known for his roles in films like “Taare Zameen Par,” “Karthik Calling Karthik,” and “Gangs of Wasseypur,” as well as his recent portrayal as DCP Bhagat in Amazon’s series “Paatal Lok,” took center stage in a splendid Amphitheatre filled with enthusiastic students.
Dr Ambrish Saxena, Dean of DME Media School and Festival Director CIFFI, warmly welcomed Mr Sharma amidst the energetic crowd. The students of DME added an extra layer of glamour to the festival by dressing up on the theme of Bollywood.
The formal interaction with Mr Sharma, moderated by Dr Saxena, unfolded as an engaging exploration of the actor’s journey, his experiences working with different directors, and his insights into the realms of cinema, digitalization, and society. Mr Sharma made the session lively, sharing his views and answering questions from students and teachers.
Dr Susmita Bala, Head, DME Media School, and Chief Associate Festival Director, made the concluding remarks and extended vote of thanks to the guest and the audience. She also introduced the students who had come in Bollywood themed dresses to attend this session.
Films on Dalit and Tribal Lives
The day’s highlights also included screening of 4 films and discussion on “Resilient Realms: Journeys through Dalits and Tribal Lives,” chaired by Dr Vikrant Kishore, Festival Director CIFFI. The panelists, including Mr Ratan Lal, Professor at Hindu College, Delhi University; Mr Somnath Waghmare, filmmaker; and Dr Prashant Negi, Assistant Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, shared their experiences and perspectives on marginalized communities.
Dr Kishore emphasised the importance of taking films on caste-related issues seriously. The audience in the N M Auditorium enjoyed the brainstorming session and found the session thought provoking.
Discussion on Digital Content Consumption
A Multi-Dimensional Leadership Conclave 2024 further enriched the festival, focusing on the theme ‘Digital Content Consumption by Gen Z: Opportunities and Challenges.’ Delivering his opening remarks, Dr Ambrish Saxena, Dean of DME Media School and Festival Director CIFFI, shared his insights on the pervasive influence of smartphones and the internet in our daily lives.
Esteemed panelists, including Mr Amit Bhatia, Editor Entertainment Live ABP Network, Ms Archana Srivastava, Principal East Point School Delhi, Ms Richa Badola, Headmistress Cambridge School, Noida, Ms Sonu Kundra, Principal Modern School and Ms Vaishali, discussed the influence of digitization on children and the challenges posed by the content they encounter on social media.
Screening of Marathi film BABA
The USP of CIFFI remained the Special screening of Marathi film BABA on the first day of CIFFI. It was greatly appreciated by film lovers, filmmakers, teachers and students. Tears could be clearly seen in the eyes of many people after watching this film. This film is one of the films made keeping in mind the disabled people.
On this occasion, Shadwal, Associate Director of BABA, while answering all the questions of the film lovers present, talked about the problems faced in making such films. Also, in such an emotional drama film which is made keeping in mind the disabled and lead characters with no dialogues, Shadwal agreed that it was a big challenge to convince the star cast and then capture what you want on camera.
