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Gender Stories Sparking Uncomfortable Conversations
7 Feb
Summary
- Film festival uses cinema to challenge gender norms.
- Features 18 national and international films on gender.
- Post-screening talks with activists and filmmakers included.
This weekend, Pune will host SamaBhav, an international film festival dedicated to exploring gender, masculinity, and sexuality through cinema. The event, scheduled for February 7 and 8 at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), promises to spark necessary conversations on social justice and gender diversity.
Organized by Mumbai-based Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA) in partnership with SPPU's media and communication studies and women and gender studies departments, the festival is supported by UNESCO. It features 18 national and international films, including documentaries and features, addressing critical issues like violence against women, transphobia, and toxic masculinity.
Notable screenings include 'Call Me Dancer' and 'Bas Ab Bahut Ho Gaya', alongside special selections from Spain and Jordan. A highlight will be the screening of 'All We Imagine as Light', a Grand Prix winner at the Cannes Film Festival. The festival emphasizes open dialogue, with post-screening sessions featuring activists, filmmakers, and academics.
These discussions are designed to create a non-threatening platform for students and young audiences to engage with complex questions about identity, power, and inclusion. SamaBhav aims to celebrate diversity and advocate for an equitable society.
