The Woodpecker International Film Festival (WFF) has announced Call for Entries for the 3rd edition of the festival to be organised from September 17-20 at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi. The Woodpecker Film Festival and Forum is known for its focus on issue-based cinema and has emerged as a popular platform to showcase the work of independent filmmakers. The festival opens its competitive section only for India filmmakers, while international films are screened as part for the non-competitive segment. In addition, the festival will also screen award winning films from several important film festivals.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Snigdha Mandal, Deputy Manager-Communications, Ph: 011-41661868
E: woodpeckerfilmfestival@gmail.com / info@woodpeckerfilmfestival.in
The Woodpecker Film Festival, K-86 - (Basement), Kalkaji, New Delhi -110019
www.woodpeckerfilmfestival.in
Press Release - 3rd Woodpecker Film Festival - Call For Entries
1. PRESS RELEASE
Film Festival on issue-based cinema inviting entries
Entriesareopenfor the 3rd WoodpeckerInternationalFilmFestival2015.
Thefestivalis inviting entrieson issues rangingfromenvironment,gender,livelihoods and art&
culture to socialadvertisements andCSRfilms.Last datefor submissionis July06, 2015.
Thefilm festival andforum willbe organisedfromSept17-20,2015 in NewDelhi
New Delhi, May 20, 2015: The Woodpecker International Film Festival (WFF) has announced Call
for Entries for the 3rd edition of the festival to be organised from September 17-20 at Siri Fort
Auditorium, New Delhi. The Woodpecker Film Festival and Forum is known for its focus on issue-
based cinema and has emerged as a popular platform to showcase the work of independent
filmmakers. The festival opens its competitive section only for India filmmakers, while international
films are screened as part for the non-competitive segment. In addition, the festival will also screen
award winning films from several important film festivals.
According to Mr. Narender Yadav, Founder Director, WFF, “We look at the festival as a mission to
promote issue-based cinema globally and explore the power of storytelling through films to create a
better world. In its 3rd edition we have introduced several new issues and thematic areas like CSR
films, health and sanitation, religion and spirituality, Mobile Phone Films and Films on North East. In
total WFF-2015 will showcase documentaries, short films and social advertisements on 14
contemporary themes.”
Adding further Ms. Tanvi Rustagi, Creative Director, WFF, says, “With every passing year, the number
of entries in Woodpecker Film Festival is growing. Through our festival we are trying to provide a
much required platform to the young and upcoming filmmakers in the country. Fortunately today,
the youth is not just talented, but they are willing to use their talent for the wellbeing of others
around them and cinema could act as an important messenger in this endeavour.” According to
Festival Advisor, Dr. Ashish Chopra, a renowned TV host and culinary historian, “India is a nation of
diversity with many stories and stories within stories. Some stories are happy and some are sad.
Each of these stories have some message to convey. The Woodpecker International film festival and
forum in its third edition promises to portray such short films and documentaries. I strongly feel that
documentaries are a powerful and effective way of bridging the gap between worlds, breaking
through to new audiences that wouldn't otherwise be engaged - in essence, not preaching to the
choir.”
2. 14 Categories:
For the 2015 festival entries are invited in the followingcategories:
1. Environment 2. Animation
3. Forest & Wildlife 4. Social Advertising and PSAs
5. Livelihoods 6. Children Films
7. Art and Culture 8. Films on North East
9. Gender
10. Religion and Spirituality
11. CSR Films
12. Student Films
13. Health and Sanitation
14. Mobile Phone Films
SelectionProcess andDeadline:
Entry Form along with Entry Guidelines is available on the festival website
www.woodpeckerfilmfestival.in. Deadline for submission is July 06, 2015. Official Selections for
this year’s festival will be announced in the month of August. The selections will be made by a 20-
member Selection Committee.
Festival Jury
The Festival Jury for this year’s edition will be headed by veteran actor and theatre personality Mr.
Avijit Dutt. Other esteemed members of the Jury include Oscar Nominated director-producer, writer
and actor Ms. Ajita Suchitra Veera, Nigerian writer and filmmaker Mr Onyeka Newuele, journalist Mr.
Mihir Shrivastav and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Member Mr. Ashieem Kaisthaa.
Woodpecker Awards
The Woodpecker Awards are aimed to inspire creativity and recognise the talent of Indian
filmmakers who are focusing on alternative ways of filmmaking and experimenting with new ideas
and issues. A trophy, citation along with a cash award will be presented in a gala Award Ceremony
during the festival.
About the Organiser
The film festival is part of the ‘Cinema for Change’ initiative launched by CMSR foundation, a not-for-
profit Trust, based in New Delhi, to promote issue-based cinema in the country. The foundation has
been established to harness the power of information, education and communications to achieve
desired social change. Communication for Social development, education, public health, rural
development, environment and media constitute the broad operational areas of CMSR foundation.
(www.cmsrfoundation.org)
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Snigdha Mandal, Deputy Manager-Communications, Ph: 9871448459 / 011-41661868
E: woodpeckerfilmfestival@gmail.com / info@woodpeckerfilmfestival.in
The Woodpecker Film Festival, K-86 - (Basement), Kalkaji, New Delhi -110019
www.woodpeckerfilmfestival.in