Editor

River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival
9-15 December 2005

Today, December 15th, closes in Florence the 5th edition of River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival run by Selvaggia Velo, with the screening of Notes for a Film on India (1967-68) by Pier Paolo Pasolini, thirty years after his death, where the director shoots with a hand-held camera the city of Mumbai in its terribly poor suburbs; and Calcutta (1969) by Louis Malle, a cinematographic portrait of the Indian city where the devotees, the beggars and the streets swarming with people will play the leading role.

The fifth edition of the festival, lasted seven days, has had a growing audience and press. Within the features, the most appreciated have been Sof Haolam Smola (Turn Left at the End of the World) by Avi Nesher, Hari Om by Bharatbala (who has presented his feature in Florence) and Amu by Shonali Bose; the shprt film section has seen among all Viva Liberty! by Dishad Husain and 6ft. in 7 min. by Rafael Del Toro; within the documentaries Between the Lines by Thomas Wartmann, City of Photos by Nishtha Jain and I baffi dei Rajput by Gianluca Pipitone (who has presented his documentary in Florence).

Very appreciated also the retrospective devoted to the producer and director Ismail Merchant.

The winners of the Florence Indian Film Festival Digichannel Audience Award in the 3 sections are:
Sof Haolam Smola (Turn Left at the End of the World) by Avi Nesher for the features,
6ft. in 7 min. by Rafael Del Toro in the short film section, and Between the Lines by Thomas Wartmann.
Furthermore, Between the Lines by Thomas Wartmann has been the most voted film within the 3 winners, so it will be screened, in the framework of the DigiFestival.net 2005, on December 17th at 8.45 pm at the Spaccio Mulas "Riciclo" in Via Marsuppini 4 in Florence.