The Community Speaks

By Shahana Dattagupta

Day 2 of ISAFF reminded me -experientially- what’s different about this film festival. It is not just about screening films, but about creating a safe space for dialogue about real, pressing socio-political issues.

Last night there was a unique alignment of vision and impact. 26 refugees evicted from Bhutan, who have just arrived in Seattle, made their way to ISAFF and were granted free admission. It had to be poignant for them to collectively watch Eviction, which was the first short film of the evening, and a filmographic presentation of their own plight.

The feature, My Daughter the Terrorist, presented a rarely heard voice of two young female warriors on the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) force in Sri Lanka. Following the film, a panel discussion with Seattle-based experts, moderated by Rukhsana Edwards, gave the subject an immediate accessibility, urgency and relevance in our lives. Mark Balmforth, from the UW Clowes Center for Conflict and Dialogue Studies and Brahmy Poologasingham, born and raised in-part in Northern Sri-Lanka where the conflict is primary located, provided both historic and personalized perspectives on the half-century long Tamil-Sinhalese conflict and its root in the British rule. As Mark commented, the film is unique because “…it turns on its head the common concept of a combatant and warrior…” helping to bring out the complexities, especially as it is told through the two female voices.

The 9pm package of 4 shots was simply delightful. It will be hard to forget the audience’s bursts of laughter with Pakistan’s Dame Edna saying, “I’m “trysexual”, and it’s “try” with a Y… I’ll try anything!” and at the irreverent humor of the incredible Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet who is so sick that he is practically the walking-dead himself, but works tirelessly to save hundreds of children’s lives in surgery camps in India.

Tonight, those of us who missed the SIFF screening of Before the Rains by acclaimed director Santosh Sivan will have another opportunity to see it. There is a second feature, the light-hearted Kissing Cousins, and two shorts – Released and Rewind. Amyn Kaderali, filmmaker of Kissing Cousins will be present for Q&A. Don’t miss this opportunity to see another great line-up of films!

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to participate in the free workshop Queer and Desi: Exploring LGBTQ Issues in the Desi Community. Remember, you don’t have to be queer to quell societal ignorance! Do read the blog entry on the illuminating experience I had attending a previous offering of this workshop: http://isaff-tasveer.blogspot.com/2008/09/questioning-cultivating-mindset-of-full.html