A Brief History of ViBGYOR

ViBGYOR International Film Festival in Thrissur, Kerala, India and its associated activities throughout the year, have become a significant alternative space for issue-based non-feature films and, film-based discussions, conferences and campaigns and a meeting place for filmmakers, social movements, activists and young people interested in media and society. From its humble beginnings, the significance of ViBGYOR-Mazhavilmela, as a celebration of human spirit expressed in films that ushers in a new film grammar, has grown and transcended all borders and boundaries.

The First edition of ViBGYOR Film Festival was a logical continuation of the earlier film festivals that a few of the ViBGYOR-founder organizations initiated and conducted in collaboration with various groups/organizations. Small Films in a Smaller World of February 2004 was organized in the context of addressing newer challenges of globalization and neoliberal endeavours and also the Gujarat genocide. Gargi Women Film Festival of May 2005 emerged from a series of ‘women in media’ workshop that had visualized women taking media into hands for awareness and action.

The inaugural edition of VIBGYOR from February 22-26, 2006 screened some 200 films and four awards were given away in two categories ‘ documentary and short fiction. The Competition section at national level for documentaries was based on the theme ‘Women Frames’, but there was no theme specification in the fiction section. Non-competitive section included national and international short fiction, documentaries, music videos, animations and spots based on the central theme of ViBGYOR ‘Celebrating Identities and Diversities’.

The first edition also witnessed an attempt by the Hindu right wing organizations to impose cultural censorship. They objected to the screening of the music video ‘Vandemataram-a shit version’ by R.P.Amudhan and wanted to stop the festival alleging that the films shown were anti-national/patriotic and derogatory to the national pride. But we succeeded in bringing a few of their leaders to the dais of the ‘Open Forum’ next day. This bold and open spirit on the part of organizers, delegates and filmmakers from the first ViBGYOR onwards has continued till date, to the SEVENTH Edition that we are ready to launch from January 25-29, 2012

Please refer Previous Editions for details