A kaleidoscope of Norwegian films in Noida
Our Correspondent

Noida, February 19
Feature films made in Norway were sent to India for the first time last year, said Mr Truls Hanevold, Norwegian Ambassador, while formally inaugurating a `Festival of Norwegian Films’ at the Asian Academy of Film and Television here yesterday. This was done at the insistence of the Prime Minister of Norway.

The distinguished guest mentioned that the Indian films were now being regularly screened in Norway. He said that he recently watched the feature film, `Monsoon Wedding’, at a theatre in Oslo.

Three films screened after the inauguration of the festival were `Junk Mail’, a comedy directed by Pal Sietaune, `The Other Side of Sunday’, a film full of humour and warmth about a vicar’s daughter, and `Frida – Straight From The Heart’, narrating the attitude of a 13-year-old girl towards the affairs and relationships of her family and friends and her own conduct - both directed by Berit Nesheim.

‘The Prompter’, directed by Hilde Heier, `The Other Side of Sunday’ by Beritt Otto Neishem, `Zero Kelvin’ by Hans Petter Moland, and `Insomnia - No Peace for The Wicked’ by Eric Skjoldbaerg are among the other feature films included in this event.

Norwegian filmmakers have indeed produced outstanding feature films on subjects ranging from social realism, romance, detection, art and literature as well as documentaries since the very beginning of the emergence of this art form in Europe. Norwegian films have won numerous awards in international film festivals.

Speaking on the occasion, well-known film critic and editor of ‘Cinemaya’ Aruna Vasudev said films enabled the creative people to deal with the normal life issues such as characters, relationship and emotions. She said that film festivals indeed provided an opportunity to the film lovers to watch movies other than those from Hollywood.

Dr U. Radhakrishnan, vice-president, Federation of Film Societies of India, Mr S. C. Srivastava, AAFT’s Resident Representative in Canada and the UK also addressed the gathering.

Earlier, welcoming the distinguished guests, Prof Sandeep Marwah affirmed the importance of studying well-made films in the training of film and television professionals. He also thankfully acknowledged the support of International Film and Television Club to the students of the Asian Academy of Film and Television.