Srinagar, Oct 20: A 10-day smartphone filmmaking workshop aimed at nurturing young filmmaking talent in Kashmir has begun in Srinagar, offering 16 selected participants an opportunity to learn the craft and produce their own short films under the guidance of acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Onir and a team of industry professionals.
The workshop is an initiative of Anticlock Films, led by Onir, in partnership with Kani Home, Srinagar. It seeks to encourage young Kashmiris to tell their own stories through cinema, drawing on their experiences, surroundings, culture and everyday lives.
It began on October 17 and will conclude October 27.
The programme combines practical filmmaking sessions with mentorship, masterclasses and hands-on experience in developing and producing films using smartphones.
National Award-winning filmmaker Onir is leading the initiative, while filmmaker Kabir Khan, filmmaker Payal Kapadia and actor-producer Sanjay Suri conducted masterclasses as part of the programme.
The mentor team includes Urmi Juvekar for scriptwriting, Arun Varma for cinematography and Jabeen Merchant for editing. Participants will also receive guidance from a professional team comprising writers, cinematographers, casting professionals, producers and actors from across India.
During the workshop, participants will work in groups of four, with each group developing and producing one short film of 10 to 15 minutes. The films can be either fiction or documentaries, allowing participants to explore subjects and narratives that resonate with their experiences.
The programme covers the entire filmmaking process, including scripting, location recce, casting, acting workshops, shooting, editing and sound post-production. It also includes film screenings, culminating in a screening of the first cuts of the films produced during the workshop.
The participants will continue working on their films online in November, finalising the edits with their respective group mentors and Onir.
As part of the initiative, two participants will also be offered internships on feature films, subject to applicable conditions.
The organisers have announced special financial support to make the programme accessible to Kashmiri students. Two Kashmiri women participants below the age of 25 will receive full scholarships, while eight discounted seats have been earmarked for Kashmiri students.
The initiative seeks to create opportunities for young people to explore filmmaking without requiring expensive equipment, with a smartphone and a compelling story serving as the starting point.
