WorldView funds Indian filmmakers to visit Doc/Fest

DocFest-4FMsThis year we have been working with Sheffield Doc/Fest to support some of the most exciting filmmaking talent from the wider world.  Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya from India travelled to Sheffield to participate in the festival, which ran last week.

The trip provided the filmmakers with unprecedented access to the world’s documentary industry players and should be instrumental in developing their careers, having a direct impact in the success of their current and future projects.

AmitShirley Abraham

Amit Madheshiya and Shirley Abraham launched the production company Pickle Jar in 2010. They retell the story of cinema through artistic installations and travelling exhibitions at film and photography festivals around the world. Shirley Abraham has worked on documentaries with the likes of Fox Television Studios, BBC Radio Four and Doordarshan. Amit Madheshiya is an independent photographer based in Mumbai. Amit and Shirley received prestigious arts research grants from India and Germany for their work on travelling tent cinemas.

Amit said he first heard about Doc/Fest’s MeetMarket when the pair won an award for their film, Like Ants for Sugar, at Docedge Kolkata, and was looking forward to sitting down with commissioning editors: “MeetMarket tops our list, their focused one-to-one sessions are very exciting for us – we hope to forge exciting collaborations.”

Shirley added: “All pitching platforms are the starting points of longer conversations… and apart from concrete financial collaborations many also offer their time and expertise for future consultation. We are looking forward to the possibilities, and the new vitality that MeetMarket and Sheffield Doc/Fest will infuse in our work.”

We at WorldView were pleased to meet the two storytellers, who were brimming with passion and enthusiasm — watch this space for their impressions of the 20th Doc/Fest…

Top image: from the Travelling Tent Cinemas of India © Amit Madheshiya