The 5th Auroville Film Festival

The 5th Auroville Film Festival was held from December 16-23, 2017. With more than 275 films screened in three venues, this edition of the Film Festival was the largest yet. There were four categories of films: films made by Aurovilians, neighbours or guests; films about Auroville; films made by students of Auroville or of the bioregion; and films that develop the theme of human unity. Some of them were as short as the 12-second Hi Buggy, while some were full length films, such as the two-hour Pawo. The festival had a good mix of internationally acclaimed films, such as Taxi Tehran, and films by budding directors, including many Auroville students. Live music in the evenings and the food festival added to the festive atmosphere. There were some grumblings from residents of Sunship and Citadines about the noise, especially from the late-night music. But the energy and goodwill generated by the 5th Auroville Film Festival was perhaps worth the price. Here’s the Film Festival seen through the lens of Parisa, a Newcomer.