Unfortunately, if Satyajit Ray were alive today and made his best film ever, it still may not get a place in a film festival.Blasphemy? I don't think so. These words by German author and critic Klaus Eder do ring true.
Eder, FIPRESCI General Secretary and a jury member at the Osian's-Cinefan film festival 2007, said Hollywood was exerting too much pressure on Cannes, Venice and Berlin festivals. And leaving little space for films from India and Asia.
According to Eder, the Rome festival flew in Nicole Kidman for its opening ceremony while the Istanbul festival grabbed Gerard Depardieu. There's a tendency even in small film festivals today to look for celebrities, paying them obscene amounts and holding red-carpet events.
Eder's right. Thank God the Osian's-Cinefan film festival doesn't need a Bachchan or a Shahrukh to stir things up. Nandita Das and Konkona Sen are regular guests though and Hollywood is still a strict no-no. And there's no question of asking - Satyajit Ray who?
Exclusive Coverage of Osian's-Cinefan 2007 film festival
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