Here we go

It was in 2014 that Chandigarh-based Tapesh Sharma went as a jury member to Krakow Film Festival. This year too he is all set and equally excited to be in Poland. As one of the three jury members, he’ll be reviewing and selecting close to 30 films at the Krakow Film Festival, one of the oldest events of its kind in Poland, which starts May 27. 

“Polish cinema is very fine cinema and made for a niche audience outside of Poland. They are more into depicting real life stories. Although there was a time when most of their films centered around the theme of communism but that era is over now.” 

As an example of the exceptional talent that the country houses, and he mentions the Academy Award winning French-Polish director Roman Polanski. As for Indian representation at the festival, well, it’s just not there. “May be because nobody is sending entries. Though they do know about all the mega stars like Shah Rukh, Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. And they also know about real gems like Satyajit Ray and Gulzaar.” 

If he were to suggest any two Polish films that gave a fair idea as to the potential of the Polish cinema, it would have to be Conductor, a musical film about the life of an old man who is committed to his orchestra, and Promised Land, which is a war film. 

All about World Cinema  

Thanks to the film festivals celebrating cinema and diversity, the idea of world cinema is no more restricted to English films or Hollywood. He smiles, “In Chandigarh a lot of people know about world cinema.” As for his personal favourite, it has to be Iranian and German films. Admittedly not really a fan of Bollywood mainstream cinema, but he feels proud of the popularity that Indian films and stars carry across the globe, especially in the UK and Canada. Speaking of which, “Next year I might get the invite to be a jury member at Cannes Film Festival. Let’s see.”

—Manpriya Singh