Roundglass Samsara Festival 2017’ Opens With an Insightful Walk Through Wilderness With An Array Of Environmental Films
International Environmental Film Festival to be held from 2nd to 5th October ~
~ India Premiere of “Naledi – A Baby Elephant’s Tale”~
Bengaluru, – ‘ROUNDGLASS SAMSARA FESTIVAL 2017’, a global heralding of Conscious Action through Art, Appreciation and Dialogue, kick started in Bengaluru with the International Film Festival at National Institute of Advanced Science (NIAS) at IISc.
The Festival, launched by Grammy® Winner Ricky Kej, was attended by numerous dignitaries, including reputed Swedish filmmaker Mr. Frederic Ollerstam, also a jury member for the festival; and Grammy-Nominee, Lonnie Park from USA.
The film festival began with the Indian premiere of the Ben Bowie & Geoffrey Luck movie –“Naledi – A Baby Elephant’s Tale”. The movie is an incredible, true-life story of a baby elephant born into a rescue camp in the wilderness of Botswana.
The International Environmental Film Festival, which will continue till 5th October, will be held across three different venues in Bengaluru, namely National Institute of Advanced Studies(NIAS at IISc campus); Suchitra Cinema & Cultural Academy, Banashankari 2nd Stage; and at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Palace Road. These venues were chosen carefully on the basis of each being a place of Science, Film & Culture and Art respectively. All three put together is what RoundGlass Samsara stands for as a festival – An amalgamation of Art, Science and Culture – A Global heralding of conscious action.
A total of 90 films will be screened during this film festival. Curated by an eminent panel of film makers from over 4000 entries from 105 countries, each chosen film has a theme of environment, while also ensuring they are interesting, entertaining and enter the consciousness of viewers
RoundGlass Samsara Festival President, Mr. Ricky Kej, Grammy® Winning Musiciation & Conservationist, said, “It is with great pleasure I present to you the RoundGlass Samsara International Film Festival 2017. Along with our amazing curator, Srinivasa Santanam and his team, we have brought to you 90 exceptional films. These films have been chosen from over 4000 entries we received from more than 105 countries. Art is a powerful way to showcase our world, and its issues; the environment, and the campaign to preserve it. Film is a fantastic medium to convey a message and make a lasting impression on the viewer. Being a musician, I understand the power that art has to influence one who understands the message. Being a lifelong conservationist, I feel the need to communicate to the audience – especially through various artistic media – how urgent the change in lifestyle is needed. I hope you enjoy these films and they provide a wholesome learning experience while also offering you entertainment.”
Swedish film director Frederic Ollerstam, part of the Film Festival Jury, said, “We received fantastic submissions for the film festival on the theme of environment from around the world. It was a challenge choosing just 90 films that would be screened over three days. Each film has been chosen carefully to engage as well as create an impact on our consciousness, so we can all work together towards a balanced world”
NIAS will be screening environmental films through the dates 2nd, 3rd and 4th October from 11 AM to 6 PM, Suchitra Cinema & Cultural Academy will screen films through 2nd, 3rd, and 4thOctober from 10 AM to 8 PM, while NGMA will screen films through 3rd, 4th and 5th October from 10:30 AM to 5 PM.
Citizens can walk in, watch and enjoy the films completely free of cost The films have been carefully chosen so as to be interesting and entertaining and that which will enter the consciousness of its viewers.
Section-wise films being screened is as below –
Feature films including Documentaries : 14
Short Animations : 15
Short Fictions including Documentaries : 14
Indian Panorama non-competition : 16
World Cinema non-competition : 31
About Ricky Kej:
Grammy® Award Winner, ‘Global Humanitarian Artist’ awardee and US Billboard #1 artist Ricky Kej is an internationally renowned Indian Music Composer, Conservationist and Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Ricky’s latest album ‘SHANTI SAMSARA’ was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande at the United Nations Paris Summit. Ricky went on to performing Shanti Samsara at the United Nations General Assembly, NY among other venues worldwide.
With 15 internationally released studio albums and over 3,500 commercials, Ricky has been awarded the United Nations “Global Humanitarian Artist” Award, Producer of the year at the South African Music Awards, Album of the year at the Zone Music Awards (New Orleans), ‘FutureVision’ Award (Los Angeles), “Pride of Karnataka” and “Youth Icon of India”
