INDIAN FILMS ARE NOW POPULAR IN NORWAY TOO – TRULS HANEVOLD

The ambassador of Norway in India Mr. Truls Hanevold revealed that is was at the insistence of the Prime Minister of Norway that feature films made in his country were sent to India for the first time last year. His Excellency Mr. Truls Hanevold was formally inagurating the ’ Festival of Norwegian Films’ at Asian Academy of Film & Television. The audience applauded when the distinguished guest mentioned that he watch the feature film ’ Monsoon Wedding’ at the threatre in Oslo. Earlier Welcoming the distinguished guests, Prof. Sandeep Marwah affirmed the importance of studying well made films in the training of film and television professionals. He also thankfully acknowledged the support of International Film & Television club to the students of Asian Academy of Film & Television. The three films screened after the inauguration of the festival were ’ Junk Mail ’ a comedy directed by pal Sietaune , ’ The other side of sunday ’ a film full of humour and warmth about a Vicar’ s daughter and ’ Frida – Straight from The Heart ’ narrating the attitude of a thirteen year old girl towards the affairs and relationships of her family and friends and her own conduct – both directed by Berit Nesheim. ’ The Prompter’ directed by Hilde Heier , ’ The other side of sunday’ directed by Beritt Otto Neishem ’ Zero Kelvin’ directed by Hans Petter Moland and ’ Insomnia – No Peace For The Wicked’ directed by Eric Skjoldbaerg are among the other feature films included in this event.Norwegian filmmakers have indeed produced outstanding feature films on subjects ranging from social realism, romance, detection, art and literature as well as documentaries since the very beginning of the emergence of this art from in Europe. Norwegian films have won numberous awards in international film festivals. Speaking on this occasion the well know film critic and editor of Cinemaya Aruna Vasudev said films enable the creative people to deal with normal life issues such as characters, relationship and emotions. She said that film festivals indeed provide an opportunity to the film lovers to watch movies other than those from the Hollywood. Dr. U. Radhakrishnan, Vice President, Federation of Films Societies of India, Mr. S.C. Srivastava, AAFT’ s Resident Representative in Canada, UK also addressed the gathering.