FTII students two day parallel festival begins

Under tight security, a two day film festival 'Retracing Freedom' by protesting FTII students began here today following the cancellation of the student's film section at this year's IFFI.
The event is being held in a small hall at the Institute Piedade here.
It opened with the screening of 2009 FTII film "Tatpaschat", which was attended by filmmaker Sayed Mirza, who said he was here to show his solidarity with the students.
"Their basic demand started from the demand of removal of the chairman. But they also went beyond that like intolerance, against hate. And who will not support them... Any rational human being will stand by them. I am here in support of the students' protest. To show my solidarity that I am with them," Mirza told PTI.

Ex FTII student Prateek Vats said by organising this festival they are not breaking any constitutional law and it is their way of protesting against the government's strange decision to cancel students' section at IFFI as well as barring FTII students from attending the international festival.
"IFFI is a part of our syllabus at FTII. We should not be denied from attending the festival. Only a handful of students got in. The authorities did not approve the registration of many students. This is not right," he said.

Prateek said he was surprised why the DM ordered at least 25 police personnels outside the venue as they are creative people and will never resort to violence.

"We don't know why there's so much police people. We are not here for any violence. We just want to screen the films which could not be screened at IFFI.
Only three films made by FTII students have been selected for screening at the Indian panorama section at IFFI this year including "Sadabahar Brass Band" which was shown at the parallel festival.
Prateek said they wanted to screen the films that they made by students on the 139 day FTII strike in Pune but those movies did not get censor approval.
During the course of two days, at least 22 student made films will be screened.