Meghalaya film fest won't screen documentary on insurgency

Noted filmmaker Sanjay Kak's documentary on insurgency 'Red Ant Dream' will not be screened at an upcoming film festival here with the Meghalaya Police expressing concern over the film's "radical content", which it said could lead to unrest.
"We have received information that the film contains certain radical views which could fuel unrest among young viewers and hence the order," a senior police officer said here today.
He said, "The film has to be vetted before screening publicly considering its sensitivity, which may have connotations which we would like to verify."
The three-day film fest is scheduled to begin from August 1.

Meanwhile, slamming the police, the film co-writer and editor Tarun Bhartiya said, "Their action goes against all traditions of film culture in our country and their need to vet the film is inconsistent with the history of film screenings in the country."
He said the film was screened across the country and abroad and received critical reviews from film-makers and viewers for chronicling the oppressed and marginalised groups.
Other films lined up for the show are national award winning films, Songs of the Mashangva and Silent Poet directed by Manipur-based film-makers Oinam Doren and Borun Thokchom respectively.