Digital Desk: The Covid-19 pandemic is the backdrop of Rima Das' most
recent film, Tora's Husband, which won a National Award for Best Feature. It
will be the first Indian film to be shown at the renowned Platform section of
the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) later this month.
Platform was established in 2015 as a competitive category, with a jury
of worldwide film stars choosing the eventual winner. TIFF, North America's
largest film festival, is recognised for its Audience Choice awards, which are
frequently a tastemaker for the Oscars.
The drama by an
Assamese filmmaker is titled "A Loving Father Struggles to Keep His
Small-Town Business Afloat While His Relationships Deteriorate During Personal
Loss and Lockdowns During the Pandemic," according to TIFF.
In a press
release, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey stated, "We started Platform to cast a
brighter light on some of the most innovative films and different voices at our
festival," adding, "Now in year seven, it's become a true home for
international auteurs on the rise."
Village
Rockstars, Das' second full-length film, had its world premiere at TIFF in
2017, which propelled it to recognition on a global scale. It received the
National Award for Best Film and was India's official entry in the Best Foreign
Language category of the Oscars. The very following year, at TIFF, her
subsequent film, Bulbul Can Sing, also had its international premiere. This
will be the third time that a movie of hers will have its premiere at TIFF.
This year, ten
movies will compete for the prize, which honours Platform, the second feature
by Chinese director Jia Zhang-ke. "Eclectic in vision, this year's
selection not only represents all world premieres of exciting, on-the-rise
voices from around the world, it also reflects the very timely and unique
perspectives of racialized filmmakers from diasporic communities broadening the
canvas," said Anita Lee, chief programming officer of TIFF.
"This year's Platform roster presents a varied variety of
talent and various directorial voices that are emerging around the world, from
first-time feature directors to veterans. The TIFF statement noted that the
year was "full in viewpoints, genres, and outstanding performances by both
emerging performers and veteran actors."
