Short Films Session I
Saturday, November 23, 2019
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
All films in this cluster are under 50 minutes. Each one displays great discipline in creating entertaining stories with a minimal amount of screen time. The result is some very startling and even stunning tales that, even though they are over in a few minutes, continue to stay with you.
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Butter Toast
A short take on the essence and importance of food waste. Where India ranks at the highest for having the most undernourished people in the world, it is time to save every bit of food, and share with the deficit ones to build a better nation
Kalasinghas
Kalasinghas – Kenya’s Legendary Sikhs is feature on a summarised legacy of the Sikhs that spans over 120 years in the East African country. Though there are countless personalities that have been etched in the history of the relatively young African nation, the Sikhs, known there as Kalasinghas by the Africans, this feature is but a humble tribute to a few of those unforgettables.
Peering Warrior
Following the end of the British rule of India in 1947, the Sikh community was caught up in a conflict of a ‘two nation’ split of the sub-continent. It forced them to abandon their tangible and intangible legacy.
Amardeep Singh embarked on a month-long journey into 36 cities and villages in Pakistan in 2014. The discoveries made on this journey inspired him to continue to explore his forebears’ history. He undertook a second trip to 90 cities and villages in 2017. He has authored two books on the Sikh Legacy in Pakistan.
During his second visit, Salman Alam took some candid video footage of Amardeep’s field explorations, focusing on architectural feats and landmarks and capturing a sense of place and time. The film Peering Warrior permeates a sense of nostalgia and also highlights the breathtaking beauty of landscape and architecture.
Peering Warrior explores the martial sites of the Sikh Empire across Pakistan.
Scars – 100 Years of Jallianwala Bagh
On April 13th, 1919, a peaceful protest by civilians turned into a horrific bloodshed that stunned the nation. A day that traditionally falls on Vaisakhi is also a dark reminder of the Jallianwala Bagh ‘hatyakand’ (massacre). To mark its 100thanniversary, the Indian Government has begun restoration work at the fateful site and Britain finally expressed their regret over the suffering caused by the massacre. The film takes us to the site of the baseless, brutal killings. It also includes narratives from the descendants of the martyrs who have kept the stories over the generations. Artists, authors, and historians revisit the tragedy through their art, writing and research.
The Journey Home
A documentary following an elderly Sikh man, diagnosed with Dementia on a trip back to India after many years’ absence.