Nov 27 2024 to Nov 27 2024 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Courtyard Koota

Ground floor, Good Earth Tarana Good Earth Malhar, near Rajarajeswari medical college Kambipura, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560074

Event Description

ALT EFF 2024 at Courtyard Koota
 
Exploring Film and Conversation
 

A specially curated evenings of thought-provoking films and discussions as part of ALT EFF 2024. This unique program brings together captivating documentaries and short films that delve into pressing environmental and social themes, resonating with our audience in the intimate, creative atmosphere of our arts space.

Featuring films that highlight ecological preservation, gender dynamics, cultural resilience, and historical reflections, followed by interactive post-screening discussions. This year’s selections include stories from Bundelkhand's brick kilns, the Soliga adivasis of Karnataka's forests, and an exploration of natural beauty through the lens of George Orwell's writing.

Whether you're passionate about environmental issues, intrigued by human stories, or simply looking to experience thought-provoking cinema, ALT EFF 2024 at Courtyard Koota offers an enriching space for reflection and dialogue.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE : ALT EFF 2024 x Courtyard Koota
 
Films scheduled
Program Flow:  
Time     Nov 27, Wed     Time     Nov 29, Fri
6:30-6:45     Some Thoughts on the Common Toad (11m)     6:30-7     Tomorrow, the Burning Heavens (22m)
6:45-7:45     A Flaming Forest (49m)     7-8     Miles Away (50m)
7:45-8:30     Q&A with A Flaming Forest and discussion (45m) (TBC)     8-8:45     ALT EFF Voices (45m): With prompts and select curation provided by us, this is an open-mic for audiences to express themselves
Total Runtime:     2 hours     Total Runtime:     2 hours 15 minutes
  Some Thoughts on the Common Toad (G. Anthony Svatek | USA | 10 mins 37 secs | English | 2023) Trailer

Some Thoughts on the Common Toad is a compelling cine-collage manifesto that defends the essence of beauty in an age marked by political cynicism and environmental alienation. Drawing inspiration from George Orwell's thought-provoking essay, the film features a poignant narration by Tilda Swinton, whose voice brings a profound depth to the visuals. Through a rich tapestry of images and sound, Svatek explores the significance of the common toad as a symbol of natural beauty and ecological importance.

The film juxtaposes the serene elegance of the natural world with the harsh realities of contemporary societal and environmental issues. As it delves into themes of decay and hope, Some Thoughts on the Common Toad challenges viewers to reflect on their own relationship with nature and the impact of modern life on the environment. This cinematic piece serves not only as an artistic tribute to the toad but also as a resonant commentary on the broader themes of environmental preservation and aesthetic appreciation.
A Flaming Forest (Salman Javeed, Satya Ambasta, Vivek Sangwan | India | 48 mins 27 secs | Kannada, English | 2024) Trailer

The Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka is home to the Soliga adivasis. This film traverses the rich tapestry of the BRT forest and the intricate relationships that the Soligas hold with it. It traces the effects of exclusionary conservation policy, which has led to large scale evictions and denial of rights for Soligas since 1974. Soliga resistance to these changes has stretched across five decades. Their articulations challenge dominant approaches of a conservation model that relies on forced evictions, and emphasises their customary and legal rights to the forest.With restrictions placed on customary Soliga practices such as swidden agriculture and forest fires, the forest is now ravaged by invasive plants such as Lantana camara. This film is a culmination of a two-decade long collaboration between researchers and filmmakers.Through a long-term engagement, the film documents the story of contestation and loss - both social and ecological - and calls for an alternative vision for conservation.
 
Films scheduled for 29th November 2024
    Miles Away (Megha Acharya | India | 50 mins | Bundeli, Hindi | 2023) Trailer

The film follows a group of brick-makers from Bundelkhand to a kiln in Bindki, UP. The team’s interactions with the female workers provide an exploration into the personal spaces within the brick kiln. They befriend Gaura, Keshkali, and Ramsakhi, connecting with them on issues related to family, parents, and partners. The friendship and the characters’ effervescence and strength inspire the team to build a story around their lives. The documentary is created by a team of women from diverse backgrounds, who bring experience in storytelling about gender, caste, class, climate change, and sexuality through a feminist lens. This experience reveals the valuable lessons learned from these women workers, particularly their navigation of work and life in the brick kilns. Through everyday activities and conversations, the film offers insight into economic vulnerabilities, such as debt, in the rural areas of neoliberal India.
Tomorrow, the Burning Heavens (Max Bloching | Germany | 22 mins 06 secs | German | 2024) Trailer

Tomorrow, the Burning Heavens delves into the dramatic epoch of the early 1560s, marking the onset of the ‘Little Ice Age’. During this period, eerie celestial phenomena illuminated the skies over Germany and Switzerland, sparking widespread apocalyptic fears. The film revisits these historical anxieties, once vividly depicted in hand-coloured woodblock prints, and juxtaposes them with contemporary observations of artificial winter landscapes in modern ski resorts. By blending past visions of cosmic catastrophe with the present-day technological manipulation of winter environments, Bloching's work explores the evolving relationship between image-making, technology, and faith amidst ongoing environmental crises. Through a compelling visual narrative, Tomorrow, the Burning Heavens reflects on how historical fears and technological advancements shape our perceptions of nature and the impending challenges of climate change. This cinematic piece offers a poignant commentary on how dreams and nightmares of the past continue to influence our understanding of environmental issues today.