| Earlier Final Solution was rejected by MIFF
2004 (Mumbai International film festival) and was screened at Vikalp:
Films for Freedom, a parallel festival organised by the Campaign Against
Censorship.
Sharma has been an active member of the campaign since its inception
in July-August 2003. Sharma’s previous film – Aftershocks: The
Rough Guide to Democracy was also rejected by MIFF in 2002.
It went on to participate in over 90 international film festivals
and won 10 international awards including the prestigious Robert
Flaherty prize in 2002.
Final Solution was premiere internationally at the prestigious
Berlin International film festival in February 2004, where it won
two awards. The first award – the Wolfgang Staudte award. Sharma's
film is the first Indian film to win this award which was instituted
in 1990 at the Berlin film festival.
Final Solution has been invited to several international
film festivals including the prestigious Canadian film festival
HotDocs, Durban International film festival, Zanzibar international
film festival, Dokfest (Munich), Flanders (Belgium), Fribourg international
film festival (Switzerland), Commonwealth film festival (UK), One
world filmfest (Prague), Istanbul 1001fest, Singapore, World Social
Forum (Mumbai; Indian premiere) etc.
Final Solution is now awaiting certification from the Censor
Board for public exhibition within India and is a study of the politics
of hate. Set in Gujarat during the period February 2002 - July 2003,
the film examines the consequences of Hindu-Moslem polarisation
in the state in the wake of the Godhra tragedy and the genocidal
violence against Moslems in Gujarat.
Also read:
Rakesh
Sharma's film wins accolades at Berlin film fest
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