Twenty documentary films and news reels, shot at the war fronts across the world during World War II, will be screened at the 10th edition of MIFF, to be held from February 3 to 9 at the NCPA.

“These are some rare footages of the World War II. They were shot in 1942 at the various war fronts across the globe. Many of the films show the Indian military in action, who fought as part of the British Armed Forces,” says Kuldeep Sinha, director, MIFF, and chief producer of Films Division. “We have a collection of about 100 such films, of which 20 will be screened.”

Beggars Division and Delhi Victory Parade are some of the films that focus on the Indian soldiers.

The former accounts the victory of the Indian military that captured Mandalay (Myanmar) along with the British Armed Forces.

These films remained in possession of Information Films of India, a body set up by the then-British government in India, till 1946. Post Independence, the films were acquired by the Government of India’s Ministry of Defence.

“In 1960, they were rediscovered at an army base in Simla by the ministry who then handed over the collection to Armed Force Films & Photo Division (AFFPD, a directorate under the Ministry of Defence responsible for production, procurement and distribution of training films and photographs),” adds Sinha. “The AFFPD offered the collection to Films Division only recently.”

The package also includes films like Battle of Russia, Battle of Britain and Prelude To War-the first two produced by the USA as part of their propaganda programme. One of the movies, Cameraman At War, also features the men who shot the movies at the real locations. “These movies have huge historical value,” adds Sinha.