Film students get a deep dive into science movies at fest

By Samayrra Ridvit Sachdev
Students of the film programs at Times School of Media attended the 5th Global science film festival at the Embassy of Switzerland on March 31, 2023.
Three chosen films around the subject of climate change were showcased simultaneously in different cities namely Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Zurich, Shanghai and Osaka.
The first film was the animation film, “Autosaurus Rex,” which captured the essence of the automobiles and their significance to human life. The synopsis cleverly summarized the ideas as, “Among the different species that inhabit our planet, one stands out from the others by its power and its impact on ecosystems. It is the Autosaurus Rex.”
“CaSSIS”, a film on Mars, explored the planet from the high-resolution colour stereo camera Cassis, taking remarkable pictures as it orbits the Red planet Mars. The film tried to demystify the mysteries of the Red Planet.
“Expedition deep into the glacier” revealed the deep mysteries of glaciers and glacial mills. The documentary film produced by Swiss Radio and Television for the programme Einstein explores the impact of global warming on the Swiss Alps glaciers. The film highlights the threat that meltwater from the "Plaine Morte" glacier poses to the mountain village of Lenk in the Bernese Alps.

The film emphasises the importance of scientific research and exploration to understand and address the challenges posed by climate change. The scientists in the film showcase their expertise in their respective fields, using advanced equipment to collect data and analyse the glacier's properties. The documentary also highlights the need to make science accessible to the broader public. It provides a clear and informative explanation of the science behind the melting glaciers and the consequences of this phenomenon on the environment and communities.
Overall, "Expedition Deep into the Glacier" is an excellent documentary film that raises awareness of the impact of global warming on the Swiss Alps glaciers. It provides a fascinating insight into the work of scientists and their efforts to understand and address the challenges posed by climate change.

The screenings were followed by an online panel discussion which included members from science community, professors and environmentalists from Switzerland and India. Moderated by Vincenzo Ribi, the panel featured Ms Subhra Priyadarshini, a science journalist from the New Delhi screening site at the Embassy of Switzerland. During the session, there was question and answer round which gave us an insight about climate change and the filming process involved during the making of the respective films. We also explored a different genre of films and gathered knowledge about the scientific facts behind them.
As an emerging and inquisitive film maker, I would like to conclude that the 5th Global Film Festival was truly insightful and gave us an opportunity to explore and learn about the different aspects, genres and expanse of film making and storytelling.

(The writer is a Semester II student of BA (Films and Television) programme.)