Indian Film Culture - 16.cdr - federation of film societies of india
Indian Film Culture - 16.cdr - federation of film societies of india
Indian Film Culture - 16.cdr - federation of film societies of india
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
(David Sterritt was a longtime<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the New York <strong>Film</strong><br />
Festival selection committee. He is<br />
currently chairman <strong>of</strong> the National<br />
Society <strong>of</strong> <strong>Film</strong> Critics, chief book<br />
critic <strong>of</strong> <strong>Film</strong> Quarterly, and an<br />
editorial board member <strong>of</strong><br />
Quarterly Review <strong>of</strong> <strong>Film</strong> and<br />
Video. He is past chair <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Columbia University Seminar on<br />
Cinema and Interdisciplinary<br />
Interpretation and has written for<br />
Cahiers du cinéma, The Journal <strong>of</strong><br />
Aesthetics and Art Criticism, New<br />
Review <strong>of</strong> <strong>Film</strong> and Television<br />
Studies, Hitchcock Annual, and<br />
many other publications. His books<br />
include screening the Beats: Media<br />
<strong>Culture</strong> and the Beat Sensibility<br />
(2004), Guiltless Pleasures: A David<br />
Sterritt <strong>Film</strong> Reader (2005), and<br />
The Honeymooners (2009) : for<br />
more details:<br />
http://www.davidsterritt.com/ , In<br />
this essay , Mr. Sterritt traces the<br />
history <strong>of</strong> the ' <strong>film</strong> festival', its<br />
genesis and growth. Kind courtesy:<br />
FIPRESCI International.)<br />
<strong>Film</strong> Festivals<br />
- Then and Now<br />
By David Sterritt<br />
Nobody knows who first uttered the term "<strong>film</strong> festival," and<br />
its near-universal use probably stems more from its<br />
alliterative lilt than from its descriptive precision. Most <strong>film</strong><br />
festivals have festive elements, <strong>of</strong> course — glitzy opening<br />
ceremonies, guest shots by celebrities, and so forth. But for<br />
the movie buffs, industry insiders, and journalists who make<br />
up their main audiences, festivals call for prolonged and<br />
intensive activity including long hours <strong>of</strong> screenings, press<br />
conferences, q&a sessions, and networking with like-minded<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and fans.<br />
Beyond this it's hard to generalize. Some festivals are<br />
regional, focusing on movies with limited ambitions and<br />
drawing primarily local audiences. Others are national or<br />
international, drawing attendees from near and far with<br />
pictures from many lands. Some showcase hundreds <strong>of</strong> titles,<br />
while others limit their slates to a modest number <strong>of</strong><br />
rigorously selected entries. Some are eclectic; others target<br />
specific genres or formats. Some give prizes; others do not.<br />
36<br />
June 2012<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Film</strong> <strong>Culture</strong>
Change language