The festival kick-started with a film called Ek Cup Chay (2009) by Marathi filmmakers Sunil Suthankar and Sumitra Bhave.

“It’s difficult for me to decide whether I am a social researcher or a filmmaker. I have always seen films as means to spread awareness about society. My opening film talks about how the common man can use the RTI Act to his benefit,” said Bhave at the inauguration.

The seven-day conference will comprise film screenings and discussions. Filmmakers whose works will be screened include Shakti Samanta, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Basu Chatterjee.

The festival will also celebrate the birth centenary of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa by screening three of his films.

“We are indebted to the Missionaries of Charity for giving us the films that we are screening as a birth centenary tribute to Mother Teresa,” said Asoke Bhattacharya, director and CEO of Roopkola Kendro who organises the festival every year in association with Nandan.

Films from Hungary and Holland have also made it to the festival. There are special sections devoted to documentaries and women-centric films.