No jury, no awards - stage set for unique film fest in Puri

BHUBANESWAR - No juries, no awards….just sun, sand, sea and film screenings inside makeshift tents are some of the unique features of the Bring Your Own Film Festival (BYOFF) starting Feb 21 in Puri.

Hundreds of filmmakers, artists, creative men and women and students are expected to participate in BYOFF, which will be held on the beach of Puri, some 56 km from here.

It is the seventh edition of the festival, started by a group of filmmakers to provide a hassle-free platform to people to showcase their creativity. BYOFF made its debut in 2004 and more than 3,500 people have already participated over the past few years.

“They came from various parts of the country. More than 700 participants were from abroad,” said Kapilas Bhuyan, one of the organisers.

“This year also the response is good. More than 100 filmmakers have already registered themselves,” Bhuyan told IANS.

The slots for the films to be shown during the five-day event are given on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“Bring your film, if you have a film, or if you don’t have a film, just bring yourself,” said Bhuyan, adding that the registration fee is Rs.1,000 for each participant and Rs.500 for each student participant.

“Although the participants will have free meals, they will have to arrange their own accommodations,” he said.

It’s a festival without hierarchy, competition, juries and awards. The participants are not only filmmakers but also artists from other fields like music, theatre, painting, sculpture, dance, literature and photography.

The events can be best described as an informal and intimate gathering of artists with films in the backdrop where screenings take place early in the morning inside makeshift tents and then in the open air after sunset.

The participants at BYOFF are the volunteers and organisers of its future editions. And the mood of the festival is that of a no-holds barred carnival where the sea and its sand provide the right ambience to lift the spirits of everyone present.

“If you want to sing, dance, show your paintings, sculptures and photographs, discuss ideas, share thoughts and experiences, or just laze around and do nothing, BYOFF is the place to do it,” said Bhuyan.