Hoffman’s Fairy Tales, a Russian film, Directed and scripted by Tina Barkalaya, depicts the life of a girl Nadezhda, during the turbulent times in Russia following the disintegration of Soviet Union. The film is competing for the prestigious Golden Peacock award at the 54^th International Film Festival of India being held in Goa.

Sharing with media, the incident of a brutal attack inflicted upon Margarita Gracheva – a Russian woman whose both hands got cut off by her abusing husband – Tina Barkalaya pointed out that even in the 21^st century, domestic violence is prevalent in every country, be it India, Georgia or Russia. “I wanted this story to be a fairy tale and fairy tales always have happy endings”, she said. Throwing light on the idea and objective of the film, Tina Barkalaya said that in a world riddled with domestic violence, her film tries to bring back hope. “Name of the protagonist in this film is Nadezhda and it is no coincidence that the word means ‘hope’ in Russian language. In the film, the protagonist a librarian is always putting a bookmark in every book she gives to the customers and the title of the bookmark also reads- bring back hope”.

Speaking on her transition to a feature film Director, Tina Barkalaya said that her experience in short films and musical videos taught her how to work quickly and effectively in the production of a feature film. “Visual aspect is very important for me. My stint with advertising also helped me. I believe cinema is like embroidery”, she said. Though music and background score is important in cinemas, sometimes silence can be even more effective.

Angelos Rallis, director of the Greek film Mighty Afrin: In the Time of Floods called for the urgent need to address the issues of climate change and the attendant threats it poses to the entire planet. He was addressing the media at IFFI 54 as his film was screened under the Cinema of the World category in the prestigious festival.

Angello Rallis emphasized that his film is the outcome of his interests in and knowledge of photography, ethnology and anthropology. “This movie is a road trip of over five years, where I had to wear lungi, walk barefoot, had to work with elders of the villagers to gain their trust and confidence,” he said.

Angello Rallis expressed that the lead character Afrin represents the unwavering determination and courage of the marginalized people for survival. In the film, she was shown facing harsh consequences of climate change and the resultant displacement. Angello added that Afrin’s unwavering courage and resilience shine through, providing a beacon of hope amidst the adversity she faces.

“Mighty Afrin: In the Time of Floods” chronicles the extraordinary tale of 12-year-old Afrin as she navigates the tumultuous waters of the Brahmaputra River and the challenges of a changing world. Set against the backdrop of the disappearing mud islands along the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh, this moving narrative follows Afrin’s journey as she embarks on a perilous voyage towards the bustling metropolis of Dhaka in search of her estranged father amidst the devastating floods that threaten to engulf her home.

Gujarati cinema needs more platforms like IFFI to reach other regions and people within our country. To break barriers and reach wider audiences is the need of the hour for Gujarati cinema, stated veteran Gujarati actor Siddharth Randeria at a Press Conference organized on the occasion of the Gala Premier of the film Hurry Om Hurry at 54th IFFI in Goa today.

‘Creating awareness about the beauty of Gujarati films and the essence of its captivating storytelling is very important’, he said.

Actor Raunaq Kamdar while expressing happiness about the Premier of Hurry Om Hurry at the 54^th IFFI added that in the recent years a number of critically acclaimed Gujarati films like Hillaro have had a chance to reach audiences through the medium of IFFI.

Speaking about the storyline of the film Hurry Om Hurry, Director Nisarg Vaidya said the nuances in the film connect to the emotions of the Gujarati community and reflect their culture. “The idea is to connect to the audience and be as real as possible with the story. Every region has its own culture that is why it is unique. The humorous and fun part of the film will definitely keep the audience hooked to the screen” said Vaidya.

Athanasios Chalkias, the lead actor of the Greek film Dignity said that greed for money not only ruins relationship between members of the family but also among that between nations which might result in war. He was addressing the media as his film was screened under the Cinema of the World category at the 54^th International Film Festival of India.

The film at a metaphoric level explores the theme of personal greed at the cost of the dignity of the family. The film attempts to extrapolate the theme and extend it to national, international and global competitions for wealth at the cost of human values and proves that the same is disastrous and undesirable.

Actor Athanasios shared that in acting, theatrical rehearsals were very helpful in character-development and bonding among the cast and crew. Expressing his appreciation for the Director Dimitris Katsimiris, he said “he employed a unique filming approach of shooting an uninterrupted 8-minute short film, shot from multiple angles.”

Athanasios expressed confidence that the film will be a powerful reminder of the importance of family and the importance of treating our elders with respect and dignity.

A moving and poignant account of the familial, the film explores the challenges of aging and the importance of family. The film tells the story of Antonios, an 80-year-old man who is forced to move from his rural village to the city to live with his son and daughter-in-law after his wife’s death. As Antonios’s birthday approaches, his son confesses that he can no longer care for him, and the responsibility of caring for Antonios falls on his other family members.

The film follows Antonios’s journey as he adjusts to his new life and tries to rebuild relationships with his family. It also explores the challenges faced by elderly people in Greece, such as isolation, loneliness, and lack of access to adequate care.