oida, June 16, 2024: The 17th edition of the International Festival of Cellphone Cinema was inaugurated with great enthusiasm and fanfare at Marwah Studios. This pioneering festival, which celebrates the art of filmmaking using mobile phones, has come a long way since its inception in 2007.
Dr. Sandeep Marwah, President of the International Festival of Cellphone Cinema, proudly reminisced about the festival’s origins. “We were the first in the world to start a festival of films made from mobiles. In 2007, we conducted our first festival and surprised the whole world. That same year, we also produced a film on mobile in association with Karl Bardosh, Master Professor at Tisch School of Arts, New York University. The film was made half in Noida and half in New York,” he shared.
Dr. Marwah further highlighted the global influence of the festival, stating, “We have been instrumental in starting mobile festivals in New York, USA, Budapest in Hungary, and Cannes in France. The rest is history.”
The event saw a large audience from different strata of life, all keenly listening to the speakers. The guest of honours included notable personalities from various fields: Ludmilla Chakrabarty, Author, who delivered an inspiring speech about the transformative power of mobile cinema.. Sanjeev Sood, Cinematographer, shared his insights on the evolving landscape of filmmaking., Rajeev K Sharma, IPS, discussed the importance of mobile technology in modern communication, Kushaal Chawla, Filmmaker, expressed his admiration for the innovative platform provided by the festival.,
Ashok Tyagi, Film Maker, narrated his experiences and the impact of mobile filmmaking on traditional cinema., Yogesh Mishra, Dean of AAFT, condensed the essence of the festival’s significance and its contribution to the creative industry. The program was followed by screening of mobile films.
The festival continues to be a trailblazer, encouraging filmmakers from around the world to explore and experiment with mobile technology. It stands as a testament to the democratization of filmmaking, making it accessible to everyone with a creative vision and a mobile phone.
Later Dr Sandeep Marwah horned the dignitaries with life membership of IJC-International Journalism Centre and presented participation certificates to guest from different parts of the country.