It began with an endeavour to experiment with cinema and not adhere to a particular ideology. The result is Inklab an independent film by Chandigarh-based filmmaker Gaurav Chhabra,which will be screened at the third International Film Festival Ahmedabad (IFFA) in October. The 63-minute film is a part of the shortlist that also features Ketan Mehtas Rang Rasiya,the international cult hit Gandu,Anurag Kashyaps That Girl in the Yellow Boots and Rahul Boses Fired. The festival will also hold retrospectives of Anurag Kashyap and twelve-time Oscar-nominated Mexican filmmaker Alezandro Innaritu. Being a part of IFFA 2011 is a big opportunity. This year,the festival has tied up with PVR Cinemas that will choose five films from the festival for a commercial release. So Inklab also has a chance, says an ecstatic Chhabra. Based on the theme of megabyte and its importance in the digital age,the film talks about the power of ideas and connectivity. Set in times when India is fighting against corruption and a mass movement has been built all across the nation,the film explores how we need to move further from here in order to initiate a change from within. This is an experiment in the lab of thoughts Ink Lab, says Chhabra,adding that the film has been made on zero budget,in cinéma vérité style (use of camera to provoke subjects and make fiction look like reality). Released on the internet earlier this year,the film is already a hit online and has garnered a lot of appreciation from bloggers. The festival will also showcase artwork by Devaki Singh and the schedule includes workshops,seminars and interactive sessions for aspiring and budding filmmakers and a film quiz called Battle of the Brains,which will be hosted by VJ,actor and musician Luke Kenny.
