Richa Chadha, Onir To Head Jury For Short Film Competition At 2021 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
Actor Richa Chadha and filmmaker Onir have been announced as the jury members for short film competition at the 2021 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
Actor
Richa
Chadha
and
filmmaker
Onir
have
been
announced
as
the
jury
members
for
short
film
competition
at
the
2021
Indian
Film
Festival
of
Melbourne
(IFFM).
The
festival
organiser
said
that
theme
for
this
year's
short
film
competition
is
modern
slavery
and
equality.
The
theme
was
decided
with
the
aim
to
address
the
threats
to
the
principles
of
equality,
freedom
and
inclusion
in
the
contemporary
world.
Chadha
is
no
stranger
to
the
IFFM
as
her
critically-acclaimed
feature
"Love
Sonia"
had
opened
the
2018
edition
of
the
festival.
The
34-year-old
actor
said
she
is
glad
to
be
back
at
the
festival
as
a
judge
this
time.
"Being
a
part
of
IFFM
Short
Film
Festival
2021
as
a
jury
member
is
an
incredible
feeling.
To
be
back
here
again,
but
as
a
judge
this
time,
is
very
exciting.
"We
are
sure
to
expect
some
astounding
short
films
on
the
theme
of
modern
slavery
and
equality,
both
of
which
are
complex
subjects," Chadha
said
in
a
statement.
The
actor,
who
had
featured
in
Arati
Kadav's
short
film
55
km/sec,
said
she
is
aware
how
difficult
it
is
to
make
a
short
feature.
"Speaking
from
experience,
I
am
aware
of
how
difficult
it
is
to
tell
an
entire
story
within
a
short
amount
of
time,
that
too
on
such
an
important
theme.
So
I'm
really
looking
forward
to
all
the
short
film
entries
this
year,"
she
added.
Onir,
52,
who
has
been
associated
with
the
IFFM
since
its
inception,
said
he
was
fascinated
and
impressed
by
the
depth
and
diversity
of
the
short
films.
"I
think
that
modern-day
slavery
runs
in
streams
throughout
our
present
world
and
the
severe
exploitation
of
people
comes
in
many
forms.
And
while
our
Constitution
says
that
every
single
person
has
the
Right
to
Equality,
is
that
really
the
case
in
reality?
"This
year’s
theme
gives
filmmakers
a
chance
to
explore
these
sides
of
society
which
reflect
the
kind
of
humanity
we
have
in
present
times.
I
am
excited
to
see
what
the
filmmakers
come
up
with," the
I
Am
director
said.
IFFM
Festival
Director
Mitu
Bhowmik
Lange
said
she
is
excited
to
have
Chadha
and
Onir
as
the
judges
for
the
short
film
competition.
"They
are
exactly
the
kind
of
judges
who
not
only
inspire
others
but
have
a
huge
body
of
supreme
work
to
represent
their
expertise
and
flair
in
their
respective
fields
and
we
are
honoured
to
have
them
as
our
esteemed
judges
at
the
2021
festival,"
she
added.
The
physical
format
of
the
prestigious
festival
will
run
from
August
12
to
20,
while
its
digital
edition
will
run
from
August
15
to
30
across
Australia.