IDPA-Indian Documentary Producers Association

Censorship now from the district level upwards?

Yet another horrifying 'regulation'? Among other things, the new monitoring committees are "To immediately bring to the notice of State and Central Government if any programme is affecting public order or wide spread resentment in any community". In the past, one of the main grounds for banning/ mutilating our films has been "affecting public order, breach of peace" etc! Horrifying times ahead?!

I&B MINISTRY ISSUES GUIDELINES FOR STATE & DISTRICT LEVEL MONITORING COMMITTEES FOR TV CHANNELS

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has issued guidelines to define the role of the State and District Monitoring Committees for private television channels. As per the Government of India Order of September, 2005, District and State Level Monitoring Committees were to be set up to enforce Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The new guidelines have been issued to ensure effective functioning of the Committees. The main provisions of the guidelines are as under: -

To provide a forum where the public may lodge a complaint regarding content aired over cable television and take action on the same as per procedure prescribed herein.
To review the action taken by Authorized Officers for enforcement of Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
To immediately bring to the notice of State and Central Government if any programme is affecting public order or wide spread resentment in any community.
To keep a watch on content carried by cable television channels at local level and to ensure, through Authorized Officers, that no unauthorized or pirated channels are carried and local news if aired by the cable television operator is restricted to information about local events and is presented in a manner which is balanced impartial and not likely to offend or incite any community.
To monitor the availability of free to air channels and channels notified for mandatory carriage on the cable network.

A complaint Cell headed by a nodal Officer at District level should be established and wide publicity be given regarding the constitution of Monitoring Committee and procedure followed by it, including putting it on website of the State/UT.
In case the complaint concerns content carried locally by Cable TV Network at its own level, the Committee may call for footage/VCD of the programme/advertisement against which complaint is considered and the common pool of wisdom available within the Committee may form a view about whether a violation has taken place. In case the Committee is of the view that violation has taken place, the Authorized Officer may take action as per the Act.
In case the complaint pertains to national/regional satellite channels, the Committee may forward its recommendations through the State-level Monitoring Committee to the Government of India for dealing with the issue.

In case it is found that a cable network operator is not carrying channels prescribed for mandatory carriage or is carrying them in such a manner that the signal is too poor to be properly visible or audible, the Committee, through Authorized Officer, may direct the cable network to ensure proper carriage of the same and take any other action it may consider necessary under Section 11.

The constitution of both State and District-level Committees to enforce the Cable TV Networks Rules was envisaged but the constitution of the State-level Committee was not specified. The constitution of the State-level Committee is hereby specified as follows:

(v) Representative of a leading NGO of the – Member State working for women (to be nominated by Chief Secretary)

(vi) Academicians/Psychologists/Sociologists – Member (one each to be nominated by Chief Secretary)

To see whether District/Local Committees have been formed and are meeting regularly.
To see whether the authorized officers are effectively performing their duties.
To give suggestion/guidance to District/Local Level Committee.
To take decision on the matters referred to it by District/Local level Committee.
To recommend action and forward complaints against satellite channels (National Channels) to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting through the Chief Secretary of the State in cases of violation of Government of India's orders on the Programme and Advertising Codes.

It had been noticed that the enforcement of the said Act in many parts of the country was not satisfactory either due to lack of clear understanding of the role of the District Monitoring Committees or a suitable mechanism to enforce the provisions of the Act. No State except J&K, has reported the constitution of a State level committee. Also, an increasing number of petitions are being received in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, from viewers regarding malpractices by Cable Operators and undesirable content being shown at the local level by the cable operators.

Dear Friends

The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy is happy to announce the 1st International Video Festival of Kerala from the 7th-11th April 2008 at Trivandrum, Kerala. The festival is supported by the Government of Kerala. The festival is another step the Academy is taking to encourage the exploding video movement both in India and abroad.

The festival announces a National level competition for Documentaries, short fiction and animation with attractive awards. We have an International Information Section.
Details on all aspects are available on our website www.keralafilm.com

we look forward to your participation and encouragement for this new venture by the Academy.

Please note the last date for entry is the 28th Feb 2008.

Bina Paul Venugopal
Deputy Director(Festivals)
Kerala State Chalachitra Academy
Mani Bhavan, Sasthamangalam
Trivandrum, Kerala 695010
Tel: 0091 471 2310323 / Fax: 0091 471 2310322
www.keralafilm.com
iffkoffice@yahoo.co.in

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The CON-CAN Movie Festival

Here is an interesting offer for film makers, to exhibit their films in Japan and online.

The CON-CAN Movie Festival is a short film festival that has been operating for four years from Tokyo.

CON-CAN is inviting entries for its 5th edition and the conditions are:
-The work should deliver a scream from the creator's soul.
-The work should display sheer creativity in independent movie production.

Some relevant details for those interested to enter:

* Submission deadline: March 31, 2008
* Film: Any film under the duration of 30 minutes
* Any language/genre is accepted
* Awards: CON-CAN Grand Prix: US$10,000; Tamashii Award (2): US$2,000;
and Audience Award (4): US$500

The final evaluation will be made by the CON-CAN international jury in an open judging panel session via an Internet conference. The 5th Award Ceremony will be held in Tokyo in November 2008.

To submit: Please refer to the CON-CAN website www.con-can.com

The 48 Hour Film Project, the first and the biggest of timed film competitions held globally, brings filmmaking teams together to make short films from scratch. Participating teams write, shoot, edit and score original music all in just 48 hours. A panel of judges, comprising of leading industry figures, evaluates all entries to declare one winner.

The 48 Hour Film Project's mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. Through its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be filmmakers to get out there and make movies.

The 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) was incorporated in the US in the year 2001. Since then, 48HFP has taken place more than 150 times on four continents. In 2007, over 30,000 filmmakers took part in 55 cities around the world. This year, the 48HFP is visiting over 60 cities across all four continents.

And this year the project comes to MUMBAI. The 48HFP is scheduled for the first week of May 2008. Filmmakers will compete to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning Indian film will go up against films from around the world for the “Best 48 Hour Film of 2008”, in a grand finale, which will be held in the United States of America.

Each completed film is guaranteed a big-screen screening in front of a full audience.

To be part of the 48HFP, you must register online at www.48hourfilm.com. The Team Registration fee is Rs. 2500. Entry is first come, first served, so check out the website and enter today!

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