Arts Network Asia (ANA) supports ‘Docs from the South’, a program of documentaries from South Asia,
as part of Bangkok International Film Festival, 23-30 September 2008
‘Docs from the South’ is a documentary program, supported by Arts Network Asia (ANA) at the Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFFF) 2008. For the first time, independent documentaries from South Asia are presented at the festival. The documentaries screened are award-winning documentaries from Film South Asia (FSA) 2007 Kathmandu, a unique showcase of the best contemporary documentaries from South Asia. These documentaries reflect socio, political and cultural issues in contemporary South Asian context. Subjects range from history, culture, politics, the Partition, labors relations and marginalized communities.
ANA supports this program with aims to generate knowledge and understanding of South Asia among local arts community in Bangkok, and hopefully to a larger community in the region. We hope to renew public consciousness of cultural bind between South Asia and Southeast Asia, to encourage more exchange and interaction among the two regions as well as to promote the importance of the art of documentary-filmmaking and viewing. We hope that the program will generate greater understanding of the South Asian region, and for us in Southeast Asian countries to learn and understand more about ourselves.
The support is a continuation of ANA’s support for artists across Asia and to promote intra-Asia dialogue. Since 1999, we have supported more than 100 projects across Asia.
The documentaries from South Asia will be screened in Singapore subsequently.
‘Docs from the South’ program comprises four award winners from Film South Asia (FSA) ’07 from Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Pakistan:
Ironeaters (Bangladesh; Director: Shaheen Dill-Riaz) A visually gripping narrative of farmers from northern Bangladesh who are forced to migrate and seek work as ship-breakers on the beaches of Chittagong. This film won Best Film Award from FSA’ 07.
A Life with Slate (Nepal; Director: Dipesh Kharel) the harsh lives of slate-miners in Nepali village is taken on poetic dimension with intimate scenes of village life.
Remembrances of Things Present (India; Director: Chandra Siddan) a nomad teenager from Bangalore who is trying to deal with an arranged marriage.
The Sky Below (India/Pakistan; Director: Sarah Singh) a contemporary portrait of the India-Pakistan ‘mind-frontier’, six decades after the two were parted. Filmed on location in Kashmir, the film provides a comprehensive look at the Indo-Pak issue and explores the myth and reality of Partition.
In addition, Sarah Singh, director of The Sky Below will be at the festival and will have two Q & A sessions following the screening of her film.
The screening schedule is as follows:
-Ironeaters
Tuesday, 23 September, 17:00hrs
-A Life with Slate
Thursday, 25 September, 12:00hrs
-Remembrance of Things Present
Sunday, 28 September, 17:50hrs
-The Sky Below
Monday, 29 September, 19:00hrs + Q&A and Tuesday, 30 September, 14:15hrs + Q&A
Venue: SF Cinema, Central World.
For more details on ‘Docs from the South’ and screening schedule, please visit www.bangkokfilm.org
And for queries on ANA, please write to Tay Tong, ANA Director: taytong@theatreworks.org.sg and Manuporn Luengaram, ANA Manager: airmanuporn@artsnetworkasia.org and visit the ANA website: www.artnetsworkasia.org or call +65-67377213.
About Arts Network Asia (ANA)
Arts Network Asia (ANA), set up by an independent group of artists, cultural workers and arts activists, is an enabling grant body working across borders in multiple disciplines in Asia including visual arts, film/video/new media, performing arts, literature, critical discourse and arts management.
ANA has a grant program that encourages and supports artistic collaborations and exchanges initiated and sited in Asia by Asian artists and arts communities. It functions in 11 different languages.
ANA is supported by The Ford Foundation
and the Asian Cultural Council through special funds from the Rockefeller Foundation.
ANA is founded and is managed by TheatreWorks at 72-13, Singapore.