The 7th Art Independent International Film Festival is an annual international event dedicated to celebrating independent cinema and the unique visions of filmmakers from around the world. Founded by the award-winning director Venu Nair, the festival takes place in Thiruvananthapuram, the cultural heart of Kerala, aiming to foster cultural exchange and dialogue through the power of cinematic storytelling. The festival showcases a selection of feature films and documentaries across various genres, evaluated for their artistic value rather than competing against one another. The selected films are screened, and the best are honored with awards, certificates, and trophies, celebrating the excellence of independent cinema. The goal is to enrich both regional and global cinematic culture, providing a platform for emerging filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts to share innovative and meaningful stories.
On the outskirts of Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges River, there is a small school, surrounded by the villages from which the children come. It was established some eighty years ago and is inspired by J. Krishnamurti’s educational vision of compassion and harmonious human development. Overcoming numerous difficulties throughout its existence, the school has remained steadfast in its intent to be a place of joy for young children. The docufilm explores the children’s lives at home and at school. The story is intertwined with the interviews of the other protagonists: the Principal, the teachers and the founder of the group of donors “The River of Life”.
Production: Daniele Baldacci for Blue Cinema TV
Director: Federico Maria Baldacci
Story and Treatment: Santi Borgni
Cast: Nimesh Ved, Santi Borgni, Teachers and Students of Achyut Patwardhan School
Music: Arturo Annecchino
Cinematography: Daniele Baldacci
Editing: Federico Maria Baldacci
Production Manager: Alessia Melis
Visual Artist: Miriam Sacchetti
Editing Assistant: Greta Cioni
Music Publishing: Lamp on Music
Sound Editing: Michele Fiori
Consultants: Nimesh Ved, Kumar Radakrishnan
Year: 2023
Country of Production: Italy
Language: Hindi, English
Duration: 128 minutes
Format: Color, 16:9