(Top) Nandita Das with Nandan Saxena (centre) and Suneet Tandon; Shuvaprasanna (right) with Nirod Mohapatra and Ramhari Jena at the 8th National Film Festival on Art and Artists organised by Jatin Das Centre of Art in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 12: The eighth edition of the national-level film festival on art and artists organised by the Jatin Das Centre of Art (JDCA) commenced on yesterday morning.

Cine lovers and noted artistes of the city watched striking documentaries and docudrama films at the three-day festival taking place at Idcol auditorium. This year, the focus is on folk and tribal art and culture.

Out of about hundred film entries, the selection committee comprising many eminent filmmakers has chosen 40 films. One of the highlights of the inaugural day was a retrospective of eminent documentary filmmaker Meghnath, who has worked extensively on tribal culture and issues.

The world premiere of director Goutam Ghose’s film on eminent artist, Shuvaprasanna of Calcutta titled Shuva and Me was screened on the inaugural day.

“Documentary films need patrons, otherwise great talents will get nipped in the bud. It's a sad scenario that people in general are more interested in popular culture,” said the eminent director who had juxtaposed many clips from his several films in the documentary.

Independent filmmaker Nandan Saxena has been attending and conducting workshops at the JDCA film festival. A student leader turned print and broadcast journalist, Saxena is teaching film making with a mere DSLR to amateur filmmakers. He felt that he had caged himself in the world of media, which according to him, was profit driven and thus he became a filmmaker.

“An independent filmmaker should not derive profit out of filmmaking. They must give voice to someone marginalised and not become a puppet in the hands of the powerful and rich,” said Nandan Saxena.

It took him six years to make the documentary Cotton For My Shroud, a story of debt-ridden Vidarbha farmers that won him a national film award.

The 164th edition of Meet the Artist programme that coincides with the festival was presented by the eminent author and art personality Ashok Vajpeyi.

Awards for the best film by students and first time filmmakers will also be given in the festival. Paintings by tribal artists, handicrafts and handlooms have also been exhibited there. Actress Nandita Das spoke about her journey as an artiste and activist.

“People do not realise the strength of documentary films. They have the power to change outlooks,” said the actress.