Members ofJharkhand Celluloid Chapter. File picture

Ranchi, April 25: Celluloid “time-pass” may not be everyone’s big screen fantasy.

But though the capital has a growing number of single-screen theatres and multiplexes for Bolly flicks, cine buffs who crave for a classic Birth of a Nation or a cult Blade Runner are left high and dry, as there are virtually no institutions for promoting parallel cinema.

Not any more. Jharkhand Celluloid Chapter, a city-based film organisation to be launched by the first week of May under the aegis of Chotanagpur Art Research and Development Society (CARDS), will change all that.

Formed by a 20-member group of visual artists for the promotion of art, the outfit is adding the celluloid feather to its cap simply to show showcase national and international film festivals to the capital’s discerning viewers.

Debashish Chakraborty, former secretary of Jamshedpur-based Celluloid Chapter said, “We will launch the film society within 10-15 days and promote both national and international level film festivals that are conspicuous by their absence in the capital.”

There is room for avant-garde films in Jharkhand. Jamshedpur Celluloid Chapter is doing well. The Ranchi Film Club, as part of the International Library and Cultural Centre on Club Road, is in existence and is still too niche to make an impact beyond the folds of its membership.

But the Jharkhand Celluloid Chapter promises to widen the niche. “We will be able to organise national and international level film festivals thereby providing larger scope for movie buffs to enjoy the screening of quality films,” he said.

Meanwhile CARDS secretary Haren Thakur agreed with him. “International film screenings are done on a small scale now. But after the launch of the film society, we will take them to a wider audience,” he said. Thakur added that fledgling Jollywood would also benefit from the film society.

Hailing the move of CARDS, noted filmmaker Shriprakash also said the state government should also chip in to promote film institutions, which is being done in Bengal and Kerala.