New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) The first-ever Pravasi Film Festival 2010 started here Sunday morning with a short film from Trinidad and Tobago and the official screening of Sharmila Tagore and Soha Ali Khan starrer “Life Moves On”.
Titled “Coolie Pink and Green”, the 23-minute short film from Trinidad and Tobago has been directed by Patricia Mohammad.

Debutante director Sangeeta Datta wielded the megaphone for “Life Moves On”. The 122-minute bi-lingual venture also stars seasoned actors like Girish Karnad and Om Puri and is the first outing together of the mother-daughter actress duo.

“It is about the identity of the diasporic person,” Datta said.

Sharmila spoke about the benefits of such festivals.

“These kind of festival platforms are important for films by NRIs because these forums showcase small budget films… The Indian diapsora is dependent on such fests as they have their own concerns and issues to showcase through cinema,” she said.

Pankaj Dubey, festival co-director, also echoed the view.

“The film fest is a beginning. We have just taken an initiative with 45 films from more than 15 countries. We want NRI filmmakers to get a bigger and better market and opportunities to take their craft further,” he told IANS.

Being organised by the international bi-lingual monthly Pravasi Today in collaboration with the India Habitat Centre (IHC) with the support of the Mauritius high commission in India, the gala will conclude Jan 6.

Films made by Indians living abroad will be showcased at the fest. Some of these films are “Monsoon Wedding”, “New York”, “Flavours”, “The President Is Coming” and “Inner World of Shah Rukh Khan”.

Veteran actor Saeed Jaffrey will be conferred with the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to cinema on the closing day of the the four-day gala event.