Life through lens

HNS

KATHMANDU: Harke-Films organised a 15-day second Documentary Open Skool (DOS) workshop which ended on October 21. The workshop entitled ‘I can make cinema’ is a campaign launched by Harke-Films “with an initiative to make films that make sense even with less expenditure”, according to said Kshitiz Adhiraj, chief programme co-ordinator.

There were 12 participants, who in groups of three, managed to present three short simple documentaries on three themes.

Janwillem Edward Maria Liebrand from Holland along with Bishnu Shrestha and Chiranjivi Devkota directed a seven-minute documentary titled Love and Punishment. The role and situation of the mother was highlighted in it as women are considered responsible for keeping the family together.

“This step into filmmaking was more of a personal quest, where one can find creativity in one’s work. It’s a medium to put a message across to people,” said Liebrand, adding, “It was a good experience, taught me a lot, and made me perceive things in a different light.”

Coke and Rum directed by Sachindra Rajbansi, Suneela Pradhananga and Anup Aryal dealt on how media affects people’s lives in a good or bad way. Reality iscrux of this film and how all perceive it. Aryal said, “It’s my debut in this field and was a good experience. I learnt a lot.”

After the Sunrise, before the Noon directed by Shristi Shah with her crew Prajwal Tulachand, Kamal Prajapati and Gyanendra Poudel captured moments of life. An open-end story dealing with simple emotions and how beliefs are turned into superstitions. Cameraman Tulachand said, “Documentary is a medium to make people understand, one needs to know characters better.”

Being Me by Harke-Films has been selected for 15th Kolkata International Film Festival.