Watch world cinema, Anand Gandhi urges budding filmmakers

Filmmaker Anand Gandhi, whose short movie "Right Here, Right Now" was appreciated at various film festivals, has a word of advice for budding filmmakers. He says it is important to look beyond the usual brand of cinema and watch works from other countries.

"I would recommend for all of you to start exploring, start going beyond what you have seen and what you have been seeing. So start watching cinema from around the world, start watching films from Iran, Romania, Scandinavia, Russia... from different parts of the world," the 32-year-old said at an event held here Sunday to promote short films.

Gandhi believes "these parts of the world are producing extremely amazing and beautiful cinema".

"They have completely different idioms and paradigms which are not your mainstream Indian or American cinema which you currently consume," said the filmmaker, whose 2003 movie "Right Here, Right Now" was named the best short film at the Syracuse International Film Festival (2004) and Shnit International Short Film Festival.

His latest film "Ship of Theseus" won the 2012 BFI Jury Special Mention at the BFI London Film Festival, 2012 Enlighten Award at the Naya Cinema Festival, 2013 Best Screenplay nomination at the Asian Film Awards and the 2013 Transylvania Trophy at the Transylvania International Film Festival.

The movie, presented by Kiran Rao in association with UTV Motion Pictures, will release in India July 19.