17th IDSFFK: Palestinian Documentary Anthology Debuts

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 20 (PTI) – Opening the 17th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), "From Ground Zero," an anthology of documentaries by 22 Palestinian directors, is set to make its debut on August 22.

Organised by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, this poignant collection captures the scars and resilience of life in Gaza.

This anthology comprises a mix of documentaries, short films, and animations, unearthing untold stories from the ongoing genocide in Gaza since October 2023, according to a Wednesday release from the Academy.

Curated by Rashid Masharawi, who previously clinched the UNESCO Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994 for his film "Curfew," the 112-minute collection was initially slated for a Cannes premiere but was withdrawn by organizers at the last minute for "political reasons."

The IDSFFK will also feature a special package titled "Election Diaries 2024," consisting of six documentaries offering a deep dive into India’s 2024 General Elections.

This section is curated by Srirupa Roy, professor and Chair of State and Democracy at the Centre for Modern Indian Studies (CeMIS), University of Göttingen, Germany, in collaboration with documentary filmmaker Lalit Vachani.

Additionally, the festival will screen 13 films showcasing the memories of female graduates from the Pune Film Institute.

Festival events will be hosted from August 22 to 27 at Kairali, Sree, and Nila theatres operated by the state.

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