With 202 films screened across 26 venues in just seven days, the 18th Festival is a monumental event that returns to the city every two years. It wouldn’t be possible to host it without the support of local forces fuelling it. And by that, we’re not referring to the state authorities or even the venues. We’re talking about the foot soldiers handling all the crucial logistics related tasks — the city’s college students.
A battalion of 80 student volunteers have been banded together by the organisers of the film festival, who sent out requests to colleges across the city. Young volunteers from various colleges came forward to help out because, as they claim, “We’re each getting a certificate for doing this.” But it’s so much more than that — it’s the valuable experience of participating in something as big and important as this.
“We’re emceeing interactions, setting up lights and sound, helping with the transportation of the delegates, carrying out reportage and photography of events for an in-house publication on the film festival, and even ensuring that the screenings take place on schedule...” rattles off Saif Tumbi, student of St Mary’s posted at the Imax theatre. “We’re also here to meet and interact with people from new cultures,” his friend Umesh pipes in.
For all the hard work that they put in, the student volunteers are rewarded with the best seats in the house. “I photographed Darsheel Safary in his green room. That was quite an experience! I also had the opportunity to click pictures of Ranbir Kapoor,” Saif remarks, while sharing his most memorable experiences at the fest.
