Jeevika News Brochure 2012

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Asia Livelihood Documentary Film Festival 2012 31 August – 2 September 2012, India Habitat Centre “The kind of films you are showing here are very encouraging and should inspire aspiring filmmakers to catch good stories around them. Through this fesƟval and interacƟon with established directors, they will learn how to approach the medium of documentary. It’s a good learning process to watch good films, interact with established industry members and parƟcipate in workshops.” – Supriyo Sen JEEVIKA FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE Centre for Civil Society (CCS) celebrated the 9th Annual Jeevika: Asia Livelihood Documentary FesƟval during 31 August to 2 September 2012 at the India Habitat Centre. The fesƟval captured livelihood challenges faced by the rural and ur ban poor, bringing light to policies and regulaƟons that prevent the economically weaker from earning an honest living and aƩaining the livelihood that brings them happiness. 18 documentary films were shortlisted and screened this year. Five films were selected of student filmmakers and 13 by professional filmmakers. We were pleased to host Subhash Ghai as our chief guest. Anjan Roy, Economic Advisor, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) gave the keynote speech on the final day of the fesƟviƟes, followed by a special message by one of the Centre’s oldest cause champions, Amir Ullah Khan, Economist & Deputy Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates FoundaƟon. Dance troupes Nritya from Sri Venkateshwara College and Oorja from Hansraj College joined Centre for Civil Society in celebraƟng livelihood freedom for the poor and kept energy levels high for the finale. Nritya Dance Troupe from Sri Venkateshwara College gave a jaw dropping performance. Oorja Dance Troupe from Hansraj College gave an exhilaraƟng and beauƟful depicƟon of how good poliƟcs triumphs corrupƟon.

Transcript of Jeevika News Brochure 2012

Page 1: Jeevika News Brochure 2012

Asia Livelihood Documentary Film Festival 2012

31 August – 2 September 2012, India Habitat Centre

�   “The�  kind�  of�  fi�  lms�  you�  are�  showing�  here�  are�  very�  encouraging�  and�  should�  inspire�  aspiring�  fi�  lmmakers�  to�  catch�  good�   stories�   around�   them.�   Through�   this�   fes �  val�   and�   interac �  on�  with�   established�   directors,�   they�  will�   learn�   how�   to�  approach�   the�  medium�  of�  documentary.�   It’s�  a�  good�   learning�  process�   to�  watch�  good�  fi�  lms,�   interact�  with�  established�  industry�  members�  and�  par �  cipate�  in�  workshops.”�  

–�  Supriyo�  Sen

JEEVIKA FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

Centre�  for�  Civil�  Society�  (CCS)�  celebrated�  the�  9th�  Annual�  Jeevika:�  Asia�  Livelihood�  Documentary�  Fes �  val�  during�  31�  August�  to�  2�  September�  2012�  at�  the�  India�  Habitat�  Centre.�  The�  fes �  val�  captured�  livelihood�  challenges�  faced�  by�  the�  rural�  and�  ur-­‐ban�  poor,�  bringing�  light�  to�  policies�  and�  regula �  ons�  that�  prevent�  the�  economically�  weaker�  from�  earning�  an�  honest�  living�  and�  a �  aining�  the�  livelihood�  that�  brings�  them�  happiness.�  

18�  documentary�  fi�  lms�  were�  shortlisted�  and�  screened�  this�  year.�  Five�  fi�  lms�  were�  selected�  of�  student�  fi�  lmmakers�  and�  13�  by�  professional�  fi�  lmmakers.�  We�  were�  pleased�  to�  host�  Subhash�  Ghai�  as�  our�  chief�  guest.�  

Anjan�  Roy,�  Economic�  Advisor,�  Associated�  Chambers�  of�  Commerce�  and�  Industry�  (ASSOCHAM)�  gave�  the�  keynote�  speech�  on�  the�  fi�  nal�  day�  of�  the�  fes �  vi �  es,�  followed�  by�  a�  special�  message�  by�  one�  of�  the�  Centre’s�  oldest�  cause�  champions,�  Amir�  Ullah�  Khan,�  Economist�  &�  Deputy�  Director�  of�  the�  Bill�  and�  Melinda�  Gates�  Founda �  on.�  

Dance�  troupes�  Nritya�  from�  Sri�  Venkateshwara�  College�  and�  Oorja�  from�  Hansraj�  College�  joined�  Centre�  for�  Civil�  Society�  in�  celebra �  ng�  livelihood�  freedom�  for�  the�  poor�  and�  kept�  energy�  levels�  high�  for�  the�  fi�  nale.

Nritya�  Dance�   Troupe�   from�   Sri�   Venkateshwara�   College�   gave�   a�   jaw-­‐dropping�  performance.

Oorja�   Dance�   Troupe�   from�   Hansraj�   College�   gave�   an�   exhilara �  ng�   and�  beau �  ful�  depic �  on�  of�  how�  good�  poli �  cs�  triumphs�  corrup �  on.�  

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HIGHLIGHTS!

¬ The�  Fes �  val�  was�   inaugurated�  with�  a�  screening�  of�   ‘Wagah’�  by�  Supriyo�  Sen,�  a�   journalist�   turned�   independent�  fi�  lmmaker�  and�  alumni�  of�  Berlinale�  Talent�  Campus,�  and�  the�  insider�  trailer�  of�  ‘Bom:�  One�  Day�  Ahead�  of�  Democracy’�  by�  Amalan�  Da �  a.

¬ Subhash�  Ghai�  graced�  the�  event�  and�  addressed�  the�  audience�  on�  the�  importance�  of�  reforming�  the�  educa �  on�  system�  in�  India�  to�  bring�  livelihood�  issues�  to�  the�  forefront�  of�  policy�  reform.�  Mr.�  Ghai�  also�  a �  ended�  a�  private�  dinner�  at�  India�  Habitat�  Centre�  with�  the�  shortlisted�  documentary�  fi�  lmmakers�  and�  jury�  members�  of�  the�  fes �  val�  to�  further�  show�  his�  apprecia �  on.

¬ Mr.�   Ghai�   publically�   extended�   his�   support�   to�   Jeevika�   and�   the�  winning�   fi�  lmmakers�   by�   invi �  ng�   their�   fi�  lms�   to�  showcase�  at�  his�   ins �  tute,�  Whistling�  Woods�  Interna �  onal�   in�  Mumbai.�  The�  organisa �  on�  of�  screenings�  will�  be�  facilitated�  by�  Centre�  for�  Civil�  Society.�  

¬ Law,�  Liberty�  &�  Livelihood�  Panel�  Discussion�  with�  Amit�  Chandra,�  Na �  onal�  Coordinator�  of�  Jeevika�  Campaign�  and�  Parth�  J�  Shah,�  President�  of�  Centre�  for�  Civil�  Society�  added�  value�  to�  the�  fes �  val�  as�  it�  focused�  on�  the�  importance�  of�  deregula �  ng�  market�  entry�  for�  livelihood�  freedom.�  

¬ Talk�  on�  documentary�  &�  public�  policy�  led�  by�  Nandan�  Saxena�  and�  Anasuya�  Vaidya�  cap �  vated�  aspiring�  fi�  lmmakers,�  as�  the�  conversa �  on�  focused�  on�  best�  prac �  ces�  to�  capture�  compelling�  stories�  and�  building�  a�  following�  that�  cares�  for�  social�  change.�  

¬ Jeevika�  Law�  Compe �   �  on:�  Par �  cipants�  received�  spotlight�  as�  the�  top�  four�  winning�  writers�  received�  a�  Jeevika�  cer �  fi�  cate�  along�  with�  a�  prizes�  ranging�  from�  Rs.�  25,000�  to�  Rs.�  3,000.

�   �   �  The�  essays�  recognised�  for�  their�  excellence�  were:�  Street�  Vending�  in�  Bangalore�  by�  Monal�  Gera,�  Pree �  sh�  Shahoo,�  and Shreya Shree, Cycle�  Rickshaw�  Pulling�  by�  Shachin�  Sharma,�  Praveen�  Tripathi,�  and�  Amit�  Gupta,�  Bricks�  and�  Bangles: Experiencing�  the�  women�  construc �  on�  workers�  by�  Harneet�  Kaur,�  and�  lastly,�  Street�  Food�  Vendors�  and�  Dhabawalas�  in�  India:�  Rediscovering�  a�  Novel�  Approach�  to�  Policymaking�  by�  Deepak�  Jha.

Subhash�  Ghai�  addresses�   the�  audience�  on�   the�  vitality�  of�  fi�  lmmaking�  and�  its�  impact�  on�  social�  change�  in�  India.

Anasuya�   Vaidya�   joined�   Nandan�   Saxena�   as�   a�  panelist�   for�   Documentary�   Filmmaking�   and�  Public�  Policy�  

Manoj�  Mathew,�  Fes �  val�  Director�  with�  Parth�   J�  Shah and Amit Chandra from CCS lead a panel discussion�  on�  Law,�  Liberty�  &�  Livelihood.

Amir�  Ullah�  Khan�  sharing�  the�  camera�  with�  top�  three�  Jeevika�  Essay�  Compe �   �  on�  Winners

Nandan�   Saxena�   speaks�  on�   the�   importance�  of�  policy�  ac �  on�  and�  documentary�  fi�  lms�  on�  public�  policy.

Deepak�   Jha�   winner�   of�   consola �  on�   prize�  speaks on his essay Street Food Vendors and Dhabawalas�   in�   India:�   Rediscovering�   a�   Novel�  Approach�  to�  Policymaking

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2012 WINNERS

‘I was Born in Delhi’ by Bishnu Dev Halder – 1st Prize

�   �   �   “I�  was�  here�  in�  2007�  with�  my�  fi�  rst�  documentary,�  as�  a�  student�  

fi�  lmmaker.�  I�  am�  now�  returning�  to�  Jeevika�  fi�  ve�  years�  later,�  with�  the�  winning�  fi�  lm,�  

as�  a�  professional.�  This�  is�  an�  important�  pla �  orm�  because�  as�  society�  races�  towards�  

modernisa �  on,�  there�  are�  certain�  people�  who�  remain�  neglected.�  Jeevika�  is�  about�  

them.�  These�  fi�  lms�  are�  about�  the�  neglected�  sec �  ons�  of�  society�  who�  would�  not�  be�  

heard�  otherwise.”

Two�  sisters,�  Josna�  &�  Hasina�  run�  away�  from�  poverty,�  marriage�  and�  their�  impending�  kitchen�  centric�  life�  in�  the�  village�  to�  

the�  city�  for�  a�  new�  life,�  only�  to�  be�  hounded�  by�  insecurity�  six�  years�  later.�  Ironically,�  they�  now�  fi�  nd�  marriage�  to�  be�  their�  

only�  path�  to�  a�  secure�  and�  respectable�  future.�  But�  will�  the�  harsh�  social�  reali �  es�  allow�  them�  to�  have�  a�  happy�  and�  secure�  

future?�  The�  fi�  lm�  follows�  the�  sisters�  for�  fi�  ve�  years�  and�  documents�  their�  changing�  priori �  es�  over�  the�  period�  of�   �  mes;�  the�  

choices�  they�  make�  and�  the�  impact�  of�  the�  same�  on�  their�  lives.

‘Shi �   ing�  Undercurrents-­‐Seaweeds�  Collectors�  of�  Gulf�  of�  Mannar’�  by�  Rita�  Banerji�  –�  2nd�  Prize

“What�  makes�  Jeevika�  popular�  amongst�  fi�  lmmakers�  is�  that�  it�  is�  every�  

year.�  We�  want�  to�  enter�  our�  fi�  lms�  because�  we�  know�  it�  is�  shown�  in�  other�  places�  

and�   it�   gives�   opportunity�   for�   dialogue�   and�   teaches�   us�   about�   the�   diversity�   of�  

livelihood�  issues�  in�  India�  that�  ul �  mately�  boil�  down�  to�  a�  policy�  solu �  on.”�  

This�   is�   a�  moving�   account�   of�  women�   divers/seaweed�   collectors�   struggling�   to�  

regain�  a�  hold�  on�  their�  much-­‐curtailed�  ac �  vi �  es�  in�  the�  Gulf�  of�  Mannar�  Na �  onal�  

Marine�  Park.�  Each�  morning,�  they�  ride�  out�  into�  the�  Gulf�  of�  Mannar�  waters�  as�  a�  fi�  rst�  light�  begins�  to�  brighten�  the�  skies�  

overhead.�  Arriving,�  the�  women�  take�  a�  deep�  breath�  and�  dive�  into�  the�  cloudy�  waters�  to�  handpick�  seaweed.�  They�  have�  

been�  pursuing�  their�  ac �  vity�  undisturbed�  un �  l�  recent�  years.

We�  Are�  Foot�  Soldiers�  by�  Debolina�  Du �  a�  by�  Oishik�  Sircar�  –�  3rd�  Prize

In�  2005,�  children�  of�  sex�  workers�  in�  Kolkata’s�  Sonagachhi�  red�  light�  district�  came�  

together�  to�  form�  their�  own�  organiza �  on,�  Amra�  Pada �  k�  (Foot�  Soldiers),�  drawing�  

inspira �  on�  from�  the�  work�  that�  their�  mothers�  have�  been�  doing�  to�  demand�  their�  

right�  to�  sex�  work�  as�  work.�  The�  fi�  lm�  journeys�  through�  the�  lives�  of�  AmraPada �  k�  

members�  whose�  entangled�  reali �  es�  do�  not�  paint�  a�  picture�  of�  helplessness,�  but�  

of�  poli �  cal�  asser �  veness�  and�  social�  consciousness.

‘Dimond�  Band’�  by�  Samridhi�  Dasot�  -­‐�  Best�  Student�  Documentary�  Award�  

�   �   �  “This�  is�  my�  fi�  rst�  screening�  ever.�  This�  is�  also�  my�  fi�  rst�  documentary�  fi�  lm�  

ever,�  so�  this�  is�  very,�  very�  special.�  Thank�  you!”�  

The�  fi�  lm�  revolves�  around�  a�  wedding�  music�  band�  called�  Dimond�  Band�  exploring�  

the�  profession,�  the�  personal�   lives�  and�  background�  of�  the�  members�  and�  their�  

equa �  on�  as�  a�  team.

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Other�  Special�  Men �  ons�  Include:

‘The�  Rat�  Race’�  by�  Miriam�  Chandy�  Menacherry�  -­‐�  Special�  Men �  on

“I�  like�  that�  Jeevika�  addresses�  livelihood�  issues�  and�  my�  fi�  lm�  was�  about�  the�  rat�  killers�  of�  Bombay�  and�  specifi�  cally�  tackling�  their�  own�  livelihood�  issues,�  so�  I�  found�  a�  synergy.�  I�  am�  really�  glad�  I�  made�  it�  over�  here,�  and�  found�  the�  audience�  really�  recep �  ve;�  diverse�  range�  of�  people�  from�  students�  to�  academics�  and�  ac �  vists.”

The�   Rat�   Race�  winds�   its�  way�   through�   the�   grimy�   underbelly�   of�  Mumbai,�   through�  dimly�  lit�  alleys�  and�  crowded�  markets�  to�  tell�  the�  story�  of�  the�  city’s�  rat�  killers.�  Using�  the�  vehicle�  of�  the�  rat�  the�  documentary�  explores�  issues�  of�  livelihood,�  sanita �  on�  and�  

development�  to�  paint�  a�  moving�  account�  of�  India�  at�  the�  crossroads�  and�  provide�  the�  human�  face�  of�  development�  with�  all�  its�  contradic �  ons.�  It�  is�  the�  rare�  documentary�  that�  got�  a�  theatre�  release�  in�  3�  Indian�  metros�  and�  won�  cri �  cal�  acclaim.

Hide�  Under�  My�  Sole�  by�  Shradha�  Jain�  –�  Special�  Men �  on

Covering�  the�  cra �  �  pockets�  situated�   in�  the�  Malwa�  belt�  of�  Punjab,�  this�  fi�  lm�   is�  an�  endeavour�  to�  celebrate�  the�  cra �  �  of�  Ju �  �  �  making�  and�  applauds�  the�  ar �  sans,�  which�  have�  put�  their�  heart�  and�  soul�  in�  it.�  More�  than�  the�  physical�  endurance,�  it�  highlights�  the�  emo �  onal�  aspects�  of�  the�  cra �  smen�  involved�  and�  thus�  speaks�  volume�  of�  the�  diff�  erent�  people�  from�  varied�  castes�  and�  backgrounds.�  

Cycle�  of�  Life�  by�  Vishal�  Sharma�  –�  Special�  Men �  on

The�  fi�  lm�   is�  based�  on�   the�   life�  of�  Street�  performer�   Im �  az�  Khan�   (Pappu�  Bhar �  )�  a�   trick�  cyclist�   from�  Jagadhri.�   This�  fi�  lm�  refl�  ects�  how�  street�  performers�  are�  facing�  hard�   �  mes�  due�  to�  no�  support�  of�  the�  government�  and�  local�  administra �  on.�  From�  a�  super�  star�  of�  stunt�  cycle,�  Pappu�  Bhar �  �  is�  now�  slipping�  into�  anonymity�  and�  fi�  nding�  it�  hard�  to�  carry�  on�  with�  his�  profession.

MORE�  ABOUT�  THE�  JEEVIKA:�  ASIA�  LIVELIHOOD�  DOCUMENTARY�  FILM�  FESTIVAL

The�  fes �  val�  is�  part�  of�  the�  larger�  Jeevika:�  Law,�  Liberty�  &�  Livelihood�  Campaign,�  an�  award�  winning�  eff�  ort�  by�  Centre�  for�  Civil�  Society�  aims�  to�  eradicate�  market�  entry�  and�  exit�  barriers�   to�  bring�   freedom�  to�  the�  enterprising�  poor�   (i.e.�   street�  hawkers,�  cycle�  rickshaw�  pullers,�  small�  shop�  owners�  etc.).�  This�  entails�  the�  removal�  of�  various�  licenses�  and�  laws,�  rules�  and�  regula �  ons�  under�  which�  ci �  zens�  live.�  

By�  focusing�  on�  free�  market�  par �  cipa �  on�  for�  the�  informal�  sector,�  Jeevika�  further�  aims�  to�  achieve�  legal�  recogni �  on�  for�  informal�  sector�  entrepreneurs�  to�  enable�  them�  to�  focus�  on�  their�  livelihood�  ac �  vi �  es�  without�  undue�  harassment�  and�  humilia �  on�  at�  the�  hands�  of�  public�  authori �  es�  and�  private�  mafi�  a.

By�  encouraging�  documentary�  makers�  to�  fi�  nd�  interest�  in�  livelihood�  issues�  and�  providing�  them�  a�  pla �  orm�  to�  share�  their�  experiences�  and�  crea �  vity,�  Jeevika:�  Asia�  Documentary�  Film�  Fes �  val�  hopes�  to�  strengthen�  the�  Freedom�  Struggle�  of�  the�  Poor�  and�  change�  the�  a �  �  tudes�  and�  the�  minds�  of�  many�  to�  advocate�  liberalising�  public�  policy�  for�  inclusive�  and�  sustainable�  development.�  

Jeevika�  awards�  the�  four�  best�  documentaries,�  three�  by�  professionals�  and�  one�  by�  a�  student�  fi�  lmmaker�  with�  a�  Jeevika�  Trophy�  and�  cash�  prizes�  of�  Rs.�  60,000,�  Rs.�  40,000�  and�  Rs.�  30,000.�  In�  addi �  on,�  the�  campaign�  off�  ers�  support�  for�  policy�  advocacy�  to�  a�  select�  number�  of�  directors�  shortlisted�  each�  year�  to�  further�  the�  reach�  and�  impact�  of�  their�  individual�  causes.

Over�  the�  years,�  the�  fes �  val�  has�  won�  support�  from�  celebri �  es�  like�  Adoor�  Gopalakrishnan,�  Deep �  �  Naval,�  Nandita�  Das,�  Rahul�  Bose,�  and�  Shabana�  Azmi�  who�  have�  also�  been�  chief�  guests�  during�  our�  inaugural�  and�  award�  distribu �  on�  ceremonies.

ABOUT�  CENTRE�  FOR�  CIVIL�  SOCIETY

Centre�   for�   Civil�   Society�   is�   a�   globally�   recognised�   public�   policy�   think�   tank�   advancing�   personal,�   social,�   economic�   and�  poli �  cal�   freedoms.�  The�  Centre�  challenges�  conven �  onal�  wisdom�  to�  usher�  an�   intellectual�   revolu �  on�  that�  encourages�  people�  to�  look�  beyond�  the�  obvious,�  think�  beyond�  good�  inten �  ons�  and�  act�  beyond�  ac �  vism.�  Through�  research,�  outreach�  and�  advocacy,�  the�  Centre�  aims�  to�  promote�  choice,�  compe �   �  on�  and�  community�  based�  policy�  reforms.�  

2012�  marks�  15�  years�  of�  Centre�  for�  Civil�  Society�  working�  for�  Social�  Change�  through�  Public�  Policy!

Centre for Civil SocietyA-­‐69,�  Hauz�  Khas,�  New�  Delhi�  -­‐�  110�  016

Tel:�  +91�  11-­‐2653�  7456/�  2652�  1882;�  Fax:�  +91�  11-­‐2651�  2347;�  E-­‐mail:�  [email protected],�  Website:�  �  www.jeevika.org