The Auroville Film Festival is MAGIC!

Magic...how many of us believe in it? It is often children that are so plugged into the NOW that they find magic all around them. Adults are too jaded and been exposed to charlatans and fakes to believe in magic. Part of todays video (shot yesterday) deals with this topic. The youth of Auroville (and everywhere else) still have clear eyes and open heart and KNOW THAT MAGIC IS ALIVE AND WELL. A skeptic interviewer selects a bright eye child to interview and goes on an adventure of amazement (at some of the magic tricks), delight (at seeing the magic at work) and loss (you'll have to watch the video to see what happens!).

Magic could also describe the ambiance of Auroville's maiden Film Festival. Magic is wonder, the unexpected, the illusion, the fantasy and we've seen all those things in many of the movies we have watched here. The creative and collaborative energy that this festival has unleashed is formative. We'll know more two years from now when the budding film makers re-appear to get their movies on the silver screen.

I flashed on the concept of “The Auroville Flim Festival is Magic” unfolded before my eyes like magic as I walked, rode, wondered, pondered and sat. As these scenes unfolded, I sat and typed to capture these fleeting funny/silly scenes. I knew where to find the two lovely stars that would fulfill the role of wonder and magic makers. Of course I had to play the Scrooge or the doubting Thomas who needed a wake up call.In Hinduism and Buddhism they strive for being unattached. There is a moral to the story. If your a reporter/camera/interviewer (or anyone else) don't ever be attached to your role (or hardware) for it can be taken in a twinkling...and the impermanence of these is things rules supreme.

I think the maiden Auroville Film Festival is magic in another way. Normally at film festivals one finds plenty of critics, for it is always easy to see the faults in film (or any other endeavor) but I have talked to a number of film makers and they all share a similar experience. They find that Aurovillians are generous and supportive of creative explorations. All the film makers have reported Aurovillians coming up to them and telling them how much they enjoyed their films. Compliments are a form of magic because they have the ability to transform and transcend.

A budding film maker...

Thurday 23nd, 2009. Reporting about the Festival turns out to be a successful fusion of AurovilleRadio and AurovilleTV.

These making-of photos were taken by Giorgio.