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Tolerance for gender injustice in the workplace is no longer acceptable

Goa: 21 November 2024:The first-panel discussion of the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) kicked off today with a conversation on Women’s Safety and Cinema. Moderated by renowned actor and producer Vani Tripathi Tikoo, the session brought together panellists including filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actors Suhasini Maniratnam, Kushboo Sundar, and Bhumi Pednekar, to discuss crucial issues surrounding women’s safety in the film industry, gender representation, and the role cinema plays in shaping societal values.

The panellists shared personal experiences and insights on how the film industry can better support and empower women, both on-screen and behind the scenes. They emphasized the importance of fostering a safe environment where women in cinema can work freely without concerns of harassment or exploitation.

A significant part of the discussion revolved around how film sets should respond if a perpetrator is identified. The panellists agreed that tolerance for gender injustice in the workplace is no longer acceptable. Suhasini Maniratnam shared her experience of how male actors often come to sets and suggest changes to scenes, a practice that rarely happens with women. She highlighted that women should also take charge of their scenes and start negotiating, rather than being passive participants in their representation. She further added that industry professionals must understand work ethics before entering the field.

Imtiaz Ali emphasized the importance of creating a work culture where women on set can focus solely on the art, without worrying about how they will be treated. He expressed that filmmakers cannot be tolerant to gender injustice on sets.

The conversation also addressed the portrayal of women in films and how it directly influences the creation of a safe space for them. Bhumi Pednekar passionately emphasized that women’s dignity and the way they are represented on screenplay a vital role in creating a respectful and empowering environment.

Kushboo Sundar added that while she is focused on making entertaining films, she does so responsibly, ensuring that her work does not compromise on principles of equality and respect. The panellists collectively agreed that portraying women with dignity is not just about characters, but about setting a precedent for the industry at large.

The discussion also saw active engagement from the audience, who posed questions about the evolving role of women in cinema and how the industry can continue to create spaces for them to succeed without compromising their safety or dignity.

As the first panel of IFFI 2024, this conversation set the tone for a festival that not only celebrates the art of cinema but also critically examines the industry’s responsibility in shaping a safer, more inclusive future for all.

About Editor in chief

Ashok Palit has completed his graduation from Upendranath College Soro, Balasore and post graduation from Utkal University in Odia Language and literture.. He has also carved out a niche for himself as a scribe of eminence after joining the profession in 1988. He is also an independent media production professional. He brings loads of experience to Advanced Media, Ashok Palit as a cineaste has been active in film criticism for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art film appreciation and aesthetics of cinema. His mode of discourse is often erudite but always lucid and comprehensible marked by a perfect acumen so rare in the field. A film aesthete with an immense fond of critical sensibilities, he wrote about growth and development of odia cinema in New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and Screen. He has been working as an Editor for Cine Samaya from 2002-2004.. He had made solid contribution on cinema in many odia Dailies and weekly such as Samaj, Prajatantra, Dharatri, Samaya, Satabadi, and weekly Samaya.
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