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NEWS Sunday 13 May 2018
DAY 6

FROM CANNES TO
MONTREAL: FEMALE-LED CANNES Q&A:
SOCIAL HORROR MONSTER
MONSTER, a socially-conscious body- SUDHANSHU VATS
SHOWS WOMEN AT
WORK ON CROISETTE

horror film, written and directed by
award-winning, short-film and television CHAIRMAN, CII NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON MEDIA
director Laura Smith, has been officially AND ENTERTAINMENT, AND GROUP CEO,
selected by the Frontières market held, VIACOM 18 MEDIA
during the Fantasia International Film
Festival in July. Monster is the story Where do you see Indian film and I hope that connoisseurs of cinema
of an acclaimed photographer who industry heading with an get an opportunity to savour this © DR
experiences physical mutations, after expanding global footprint? What diversity.
a long-forgotten decision suddenly are the major highlights? diversified into five different lines of
returns to haunt her. “Monster uses the Indian cinema has matured over the last How has business been for Viacom businesses (broadcast, films, digital, live
body-horror genre to explore our fear few years in terms of both content and 18 Media and what are you and consumer products). Since inception,
of missing out, our fear of being left out production quality. In the last two years looking forward to this year at which is a little over a decade ago,
and our deep, universal human fear: alone, Indian films such as Padmaavat, Cannes? What’s the current focus we have grown almost 50 times in top
of our own mortality,” Smith said. Dangal and Baahubali 2 have found of Viacom 18 Motion Pictures? line. It’s been a phenomenal journey
Producer Jenny Walker of FoR Films said: success in traditional as well as non- The last 12 months or so have been — for all of us at Viacom 18.
“Monster is an incredibly exciting project traditional international markets. It’s fair arguably — the best time in the history
right now. In a wholly original way, it hits to say our stories have struck an of Viacom18 Motion Pictures. At There are radical changes
the zeitgeist for female-led and female- emotional chord with global audiences. Viacom 18 we are very proud of having happening to the filmed
helmed projects exploring issues which In several areas, we’ve set the benchmark one of the best teams in the film business. entertainment business
affect us all by showing, from a women’s by touching on issues that societies across We’ve tasted commercial success with worldwide. How are any such
perspective, how change, however the world are grappling with. I see this Padmaavat and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha changes or developments affecting
frightening it seems, can be ultimately getting dialled up further in the next and won critical acclaim with Manto — or changing the industry in India?
liberating. It will engage fans of socially two-three years as a new generation of which is also being featured in the Un In the truest sense, films are the antithesis
conscious horror films such as Raw, Indian storytellers takes the world stage. Certain Regard category here at Cannes. of ‘bite-sized content’. At a macro level,
The Transfiguration, and Get Out which We want to continue on our journey and as attention spans come down in younger
defined the social-horror genre, as well As an industry leader, what do take stories from the depth and breadth audiences, filmic storytelling will need to
as Nicolette Krebitz’s transformation- you see as India’s mission of India to the world. You’ll see us do a evolve to offer one of the two hooks to
centered drama Wild.” Monster comes at Cannes 2018? lot of this in the coming year as we dial attract audiences; (1) extremely high
from an all-female writer/director/ This year India is showcasing four films up our focus on regional films and enter production quality with special effects
producer team. “We are delighted to be at Cannes Film Festival, which is an the world of digital content with our and so on, (2) nuanced, layered plots
giving voice to storytellers and stories achievement by itself. Cannes provides Tipping Point offering. As an with storylines that can keep (especially
still under-represented in film,” added Indian filmmakers with the right canvas organisation, the year has been a great younger) audiences craving for more.
Smith. In partnership with the Cannes to showcase their capabilities. For me, one. We have delivered a top line of This will lead to a renewed focus on
Film Festival and Fantasia, Frontières our mission at the 71st edition of the $560m with a growth of 20% over last the movie watching experience with
facilitates funding for genre films. Festival is to put the spotlight on our year, crossing the $500m revenue technology playing a more important
This includes female-led horror Raw, versatility as a creative industry. Our milestone. This has been our fifth role (think newer, immersive, interactive
the feature debut from director cinema is as diverse as our country. There consecutive year of profitable growth as formats) and the need to encourage
Julia Ducournau, which won the Cannes is a plethora of styles, techniques, we have expanded our broadcast business younger storytellers from diverse
FIPRESCI Prize in 2016. ✦ themes, languages and faces in our films to 44 channels in eight languages and backgrounds.✦
Liza Foreman Vincent Le Leurch

‘Do not bite your opponents’ guests at BIFFF are warned

HE 37th annual Brussels Tigers are not Afraid by Issa López and
International Fantastic Film Mon Mon Mon Monsters by Giddens Ko.
Festival (BIFFF) took place The Melies d’Argent Award for 2018
in the Belgian capital last went to David Freyne’s The Cured; Best
T month. Among a number Thriller was Won Shin-yun’s Memoir of a
of extraordinary sights, the Festival saw Murderer; the 7th Orbit Award went to
the world’s biggest Zombie walk — Lisa Brühlmann’s Blue My Mind; and the
the ZomBIFFF Parade — with hundreds Critics Award for 2018 went to Andrés
of people walking the streets of Brussels Goteira’s Dhogs.
dressed as the un-dead. The highlight of The common perception of the typical
the Festival for Market Managing fan of fantastic films is the shy adolescent
Director Romain Roll was a masterclass male, but last year’s BIFFF took great © 35TH BIFFF - AMANDINE BELOTTE
by Guillermo del Toro, the Mexican-born strides in the cause of diversity and
director of dark Gothic horror movies — appointed an all-women international
and other more mainstream titles — jury. “Last year it was 100% women on Zombies take to the streets at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival
including Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II and the jury; this year it was 33%,” Roll said.
The Shape of Water. An icon among But of the Festival’s 65,000 visitors, only for Zombies”, whose sports include time a zombie gets hit, he or she has
fantastic film fans, guest of honour Del “it’s equal men and women. And more Spinal Cord Pulling, Running, Intestine to go back to the starting line.”
Toro was “knighted by BIFFF into the and more women are attending.” Pulling and Attacking Humans, “in which The list of rules for the games includes:
Order of the Golden Raven”, Roll said. The Festival also features the humans armed with stones attempt to “Do not bite your opponents.” ✦
Silver Raven Awards this year went to ZomBIFFF’lympics, “a special Olympics push back advancing zombies. Every Julian Newby

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