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Film & Dance

Manifest International Dance-Film Festival

The three-day festival explores the bond between the two art forms of film and dance.

[Come Rain or Shine is a dance film directed by Justyne, Sze-Yeung Li. Music by Robert Henke]

[Come Rain or Shine is a dance film directed by Justyne, Sze-Yeung Li. Music by Robert Henke]

In the absence of a stage to perform, artists began to explore the medium of ‘dance in films’ to reach out to the audience. In the process, many of them saw the dance-film collaboration as an exciting option to tell a story or share creative ideas. Though as an independent genre it is still niche and new, it is gradually finding an involved audience.

In this context, Manifest, a dedicated dance film festival, holds much significance. To be held from July 29 to 31 in Puducherry, it will indulge in the cinematic exploration of movement and choreography.

At this event, there will be screenings of dance‐films submitted by artists from more than 20
countries. There will also be discussions and interactions on related topics and an academic seminar.
‘Manifest’ is the first dance‐film festival in India that is onsite.

The focus of the incubator, similarly is on Indian movement forms‐ inclusive of folk, classical and martial arts. And will be mentored by award‐winning professionals in their respective fields including
Sankeet Natak Akademi Award winner and PadmaShri Shasshadhar Acharya, Choreographer and
Contemporary Indian Dancer Anita Ratnam, Cinematographer Shri R.Narayan Kumar and film maker
shri Arjun Gourusaria.

Program

Come Rain or Shine (Hong Kong)
The Calling (USA)
Where the Spiders Live (UK)
A Part (Sweden)
Eco Dream (Spain)
Song of Songs (USA)
You Wanted Rivers (Spain)
Out of Time (UK)

Organised by AuroApaar along with Narthaki (venue partner is Alliance Francaise), it will include documentaries on dance, mainstream musicals, music videos, and fiction or experimental dance films. Festival goers are required to register to attend the festival. Links below.

About the organiser

AuroApaar is a pioneering dance-film collective based in rural South India.

Located in the officially ‘undefinable’ area between Pondicherry and Auroville in Tamil Nadu, the movement away from ‘centres’ to in-between spaces is reflected in its choice of geographical and artistic location.

The lone Indian voice in over a decade and a half in the genre of dance-film, (their first dance-film was commissioned by Channel 4 in 2007), AuroApaar has pioneered many aspects of the cross-fertilisation of dance and film in India.

The intersection of poetry, performance and film has inspired their artwork which has been exhibited across very diverse platforms- from national and international dance and film festivals to emerging spaces for contemporary art.

Register for the event at AuroApaar’s official website, here.

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