The national award winning film, Hellaro will be showcased in Cannes Film Festival. The film was also nominated for the best debut feature film of a director in the film festival. The film was officially selected as the opening film at Indian Panorama in the 50th International Film Festival of India. The film is getting its due acclaim by getting displayed on an international platform.
Speaking with TOI, director Abhishek Shah said, “It is a great feeling to know that our film will be screened at Cannes. Not being able to go to the festival physically is surely a huge miss. Just being part of something like this, meeting people you have idolised for years as a filmmaker and interacting with the global audience is an experience that can enrich you as a professional and I am going to miss it. But I am happy that my film has made it on its own.”
“We didn’t register for the festival, it was a unanimous choice by the members of the I&B Ministry, which makes it even more special.”
The film is set in a remote village near kutch on a group of women who are suppressed by patriarchal oppression. They are even denied the joys of arts like dancing even in the front of the goddess during the festivals. Here, the men perform garba while the women aren’t even allowed to watch it. The film brings into light the irony of praying to a female deity to bless them with rain but are suppressing the lives of real women.