Documentaries are becoming increasingly relevant today for opening the eyes of the authorities on burning issues and to awaken the public conscience, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Friday.
The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the 6th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy at the Kairali-Sree Theatres.
Noted documentary filmmaker Mike Pandey, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that every state should have a television channel dedicated to screening documentaries.
Documentaries are going through a tough time in India, Pandey, a three-time Green Oscar winner, said. In a country which has around 1100 television channels, Doordarshan remains the only one which airs documentaries, he said.
Documentaries can help change public perception on issues, he said, citing as example his documentary on the whale shark (Shores of Silence - Whale Sharks in India) and how it led to the ban on whale shark hunting on Indian shores. Cultural Affairs Secretary Rani George released the official festival catalogue by handing over a copy to Mike Pandey.
Minister of State for Human Resources Development Shashi Tharoor released the daily bulletin. In all, 150 films are being screened over the five-day festival.
After the function, the inaugural film, ‘Five Broken Cameras,’ directed by Emad Burnet and Guy Davidi, was screened.
The festival will conclude on June 11.