Manifest Dance-Film Festival: A Global Celebration of Movement and Art

The fourth edition of the "Manifest Dance-Film Festival" will begin on Friday at the Alliance Francaise. The festival features 150 films from around the world, including the world premiere of "Snake in the Grass" by French filmmaker Fu Le. Indian films will have a special section in competition, with Ronita Mukherjee's "Amorphous" winning the award for best Indian film. Notable dance-films with Asian premieres include "Foret" by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Némo Flouret, "The Sea" by Douglas Rosenberg, and "Mama Dancers" by Jingqi Guang and Yang Tao.

The fourth edition of the "Manifest Dance-Film Festival" will commence on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the Alliance Francaise. This year's festival promises a diverse and rich program with 150 films from around the world, highlighting the global appeal of dance films.

Among the standout attractions is the world premiere of "Snake in the Grass," directed by French filmmaker Fu Le. The film was shot in India with lead roles played by participants from the "Manifest" program, and it is supported by the French Institute of Pondicherry. This international collaboration underscores the festival's commitment to promoting cultural exchange and artistic excellence [1].

The festival, hosted by AuroApaar, a city-based dance film collective, will feature a special section dedicated to Indian films in competition. The award for the best Indian film will be presented to Ronita Mukherjee's "Amorphous," a contemporary dance film that has garnered significant attention for its innovative approach [1].

In addition to "Snake in the Grass," several notable dance films will have their Asian premieres at the festival. These include "Foret," choreographed by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Némo Flouret, which is a Belgian/French production; "The Sea," directed by Douglas Rosenberg; and "Mama Dancers," a US/China collaboration by Jingqi Guang and Yang Tao [1].

The event will run for three days and offers a unique opportunity for dance enthusiasts and film buffs to experience a diverse range of dance films from various continents. The festival's curator, Ashavari Majumdar, expressed satisfaction with the quality and quantity of submissions, highlighting the steady improvement in Indian dance films [1].

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/fourth-dance-film-fete-from-today/article69878245.ece