Hindi
Tavernier to get lifetime achievement award at 42nd IFFI
PANAJI: A total of 167 films from about sixty countries will be screened at the 42nd International Film Festival of India commencing 23 November, when renowned French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier will receive the Lifetime Achievement award from Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni.
This award, which had been started around a decade earlier and later abandoned, has been revived and will include a cash award of Rs 1 million.
The festival will be inaugurated by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan at the Rabindra Bhavan in Madgaon. The festival will open with ‘The Consul of Bordeaux‘ by Francisco Manso and Joao Correa and will close on 3 December with ‘The Lady‘ by Luc Besson on the life of Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar.
Bertrand Tavernier is best known for his films ‘Prix Louis Delluc‘ and the ‘Silver Bear‘ as well as for the Special Jury Prize award winner for his film ‘The Clockmaker‘ at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival. Tavernier has to his credit acclaimed films like ‘Life and Nothing But‘ which won the BEFTA for best film in a language other than English in 1990 and ‘The Princess of Montpensier‘ which competed for the Palme d‘Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
The Festival will pay homage to seven stalwarts of the film industry who were well known for their creative geniuses. The international luminaries who will be remembered at this year‘s festival include Sidney Lumet, Raul Ruiz, Claude Chabrol, Adolfas Meekas, Richard Leacock, Elizabeth Taylor and Tareque Masood. The Indian to whom homage is being paid include Mani Kaul, Shammi Kapoor, Jagjit Singh, Bhupen Hazarika, and Rabindra Nath Tagore who will be remembered with the screening of five films based on his written works.
The Indian Panorama will open with the Malayalam film ‘Urunami‘ and will showcase eclectic Indian movies like ‘Ranjana Ami Ar Asho Na‘, ‘Zindagi Milegi Na Doobara‘, ‘Noong Amadi Yeroom‘, and much more.
The total budget of the Festival is around Rs 100 million including the award money of Rs 10 million, Festival Director Shankar Mohan said at a press meet here. Others who spoke were Entertainment Society of Goa CEO Manoj Srivastava, and eminent filmmaker AK Bir.
Bringing together the gems of the cinematic world, which have found acclaim in noted film festivals abroad, this year‘s film festival will be showcasing ‘Festivals Kaleidoscope‘, a package which includes top award winners in film festivals like Cannes, Locarno, Montreal and Busan. There will be sections on European Discoveries, Spotlight in India, Documentaries, Sketches on screen, and Soccer in Cinema, and Russian Classics. The country focus is on the United States. There will also be some Masterclasses.
The ‘Retrospective‘ section which screens acclaimed movies of eminent film personalities, will screen unforgettable movies of two legendary directors. Luc Besson, one of the most revered and acclaimed names in the French film industry, will be present. Another luminary whose works will be showcased at the festival is the much acclaimed Australian film director Phillip Noyce.
The five-member International Jury is headed by famed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan judging fourteen films. Seven outstanding films which could not make it to the competition are being shown in a section known as ‘A Cut Above‘.
With a view to bring along a technological revolution in this year‘s festival, the Festival will showcase 3D stereoscopic movies which are chosen not for their stereoscopic content, but also for excellence in handling the medium. This section will bring together 3D classics from across the world.
Srivastava also gave details about the Short Film Center and the Chhota Cinema section for new filmmakers.
Hindi
Rajesh Ramaswamy exits The Script Room to focus on filmmaking journey
Ad filmmaker steps away from own venture to pursue direction and storytelling
MUMBAI: In a move that has caught the attention of the advertising and creative community, Rajesh Ramaswamy has announced his exit from The Script Room, the company he co-founded, marking the end of a seven-year stint at the helm.
The decision, which came into effect earlier this month, signals a shift in focus for Ramaswamy, who is now looking to immerse himself fully in filmmaking and direction as an independent creative.
Known for blending sharp advertising insight with storytelling craft, Ramaswamy has been instrumental in shaping The Script Room into a creative hub that delivered campaigns, branded content, and original storytelling formats. Over the years, the company collaborated with agencies, directors, and a wide network of writers, while also experimenting with formats such as short films and web series.
Sharing his thoughts on the transition, Ramaswamy indicated that the move is driven by a desire to focus and explore stories he has been developing over time. While he acknowledged the unconventional nature of stepping away from one’s own venture, he also framed it as a necessary leap toward clarity and creative pursuit.
Importantly, The Script Room will continue its operations with its current team and leadership, with Ramaswamy expressing confidence in the group that helped build the company’s identity. The studio, he noted, remains well-positioned to evolve further with fresh talent and ideas.
His exit also reflects a wider industry trend, where experienced advertising professionals are increasingly transitioning into independent filmmaking, tapping into the growing opportunities across digital and long-form content platforms.
As Ramaswamy steps into this new phase, the move underscores a familiar creative instinct, sometimes, the boldest ideas begin with a clean break.
