Silence as message and medium

Thiruvananthapuram: Despite the challenges in production and the lack of technical perfection, short films can be a good means of expression, helping to bridge the void between the filmmaker and the viewer, according to a group of directors participating in the International Documentary and Short Film Festival which concluded here on Tuesday.

At an interaction with reporters, they lamented that short films were not taken seriously. �Such films often suffer from poor viewership, said Aparna Warrier, a student of Nehru College, Coimbatore, whose maiden directorial venture was exhibited at the festival. Her film �Mirage does not have dialogue in it.

�Silence can be the best means of communication,� Ms. Warrier said. Dr. Prasad, whose work named �Father was also exhibited, agreed. �Short films are an expression, like a poem. Visuals are as effective as sound.�

Dr. Prasad said short films were emerging as a good medium in Kerala. �Mobilising funds for making short films is a big problem. Getting creative editors is another major challenge,� he said.

Rajeevkumar, director of �Nobody is Speaking, said technical perfection was not important for short films. �The film has to create a communication between the director and the viewer.�

Also present were Harshad, director of �Yellow Glass, a film that highlights exploitation by the pharmaceutical industry; script writer Radhakrishnan Perambra and Dnyanesh Zoting and Tanmayee Deo, makers of �A Family Drama.