India named guest country for 10th Zurich Film Festival

The 10th Zurich Film Festial (Sep 25-Oct 5) is to focus on India in this year’s New World View section.

ZFF will screen ten new feature and documentary films by emerging Indian filmmakers and a short film block.

India produces between 800 and 1,000 films annually. But rather than focus on Bollywood, ZFF will focus on latest developments in the type of auteur film that first came to the world’s attention in the mid 50s thanks to such luminaries of the so-called Indian New Wave as Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen.

In explaining the decision to choose India, ZFF co-directors Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri said: “New Indian cinema has experienced an upsurge in recent years, and not just on the subcontinent.”

“New projects have been realised over the past few years that undermine common stereotypes. The movement from mainstream to independent cinema is unmistakable. This development is incredibly exciting.”

Details of the programme will be released at a later date.