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Film festival participants condemn US attacks
KOCHI:
Participants of the open forum at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK ‘99) on Monday adopted a resolution condemning the “unilateral aggression” of the United States against Yugoslavia and Iraq.
The resolution was presented by film-maker PT. Kunhi-Mohammed, MLA, at the forum, which was discussing ‘Does Hollywood cripple Third World Cinema?’
The main speakers at the forum were of the same opinion that the impact of Hollywood films was being felt in the area of film-making all over the world.
Tunisian film-maker Rachid Ferchiou said it would be silly not to acknowledge the fact that money rules everywhere. It would be better if Asian and African countries co-ordinate film-making and distribution activities, he said, adding that a collaboration between Asian and African countries was needed in these areas to check the threai from Hollywood.
“However, we cannot ignore Hollywood, which is quite powerful in the area of film-making," Rachid said. Somaratna Balasurya, chair man of the Sri Lanka Film Federation, said his country was not importing Hollywood films as the western industry was piqued by the introduction of a surcharge on import.
“This closing of doors to Hollywood cinema has helped us promote our own cinema within limitations" he said. Russian film-maker Constantine Ogno said the current Russian films were imitating American cinema. Film production in Russia had become too expensive and American films were being imported on a large scale in the country, he said.
He agreed with the general view that the films made in Hollywood were crippling the smaller film industries all over the world.
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