Jan 24 2024 to Jan 24 2024 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

70 minutes | Hindi, Urdu with English subtitles | India, Lithuania, South Korea | 2022

Director & Producer: Siddhant Sarin

Co-Director: Debankon S. Solanky

Co-Producers: Arunas Matelis (Lithuania), Sarah Kang (South Korea)

A momentary act of revenge transforms the lives of two young Indian women forever. Acid attack survivors Ritu and Faraha, daily navigate a sea of odd currents while carrying on their faces the scars of human brutality. Strangely enough, Ritu’s scars have also brought her fame. She occasionally finds herself talking on television, modelling at fashion events, or even featuring in a Bollywood film. Still, she often feels lonely. She wants to be loved and embraces an ambiguous relationship with a fellow female acid attack survivor. Faraha, on the other hand, has come to terms with her post-attack singlehood and her new lease of life. As she begins to enjoy freedom and independence, a desire to become a mother begins to brew inside her. Intertwining shadow and light, hope and hopelessness in Ritu and Faraha’s lives, Ayena becomes a mirror for our own reflections.

In collaboration with: Speakers Siddhant Sarin Director & Producer

Siddhant Sarin is a filmmaker from India & the co-founder of Docustan. His award winning debut film, Ayena (Mirror) premiered at festivals such as Krakow Film Festival, MAMI, Dokfest München, Puerto Rico Film Festival, Kino Pavasaris amongst others. He represents his production ‘Teh Films’ that formed the world’s very first Indian, Lithuanian and S. Korean co-production team. His recent short documentary MUM premiered in FIPADOC International Documentary Festival, France and CINEMAJOVE, Spain and won awards at IDSFFK, Kerala and Caminhos do Cinema Português. He has graduated as a scholarship student at Docnomads and has previously studied cinematography at DFFB and FAMU. He graduated from Govt. Law College, Mumbai before pursuing his filmmaking career. He envisions author driven artwork that is reflective and socially relevant.

Sandhya Kumar Filmmaker

Sandhya Kumar is a filmmaker and editor based in Bangalore. A graduate of San Francisco Art Institute and Jamia Millia University, New Delhi, her work is inspired by the desire to make visible the poetry of everyday life. She has received film grants from the India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) and the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) and has been an ATSA fellow at ARThink South Asia. Sandhya is a trustee of Vikalp Bengaluru, a filmmakers’ collective committed to creating platforms for documentary films to reach wider audiences.