In India, cinema is not only an art form but also a part of our every day life. Films are a reflection of our society and many of them also help in shaping the popular culture. And now, a new unique grant for writers on Indian cinema has been announced by Film Companion and A Suitable Agency.
The writing grant, Film Ink, aims to support and encourage people to write original and well-researched books on Indian cinema. It is open to writers of Indian origin or those who are residents of India, and above 18 years of age.
'Two talented writers with compelling book ideas, will receive a grant of 2.5 Lakh each along with publishing support. Film Ink is envisioned to create a library of work that will document the journeys of luminaries of Indian cinema and uncover various cultural moments— some well-known, some hidden from the public eye,' reads the press release.
Commenting on the development, Film journalist and author Anupama Chopra, said in a statement, “Writing my first book 'Sholay: The Making of a Classic', was a pivotal moment in my career. And now, I’m delighted to present Film Ink, which will enable more writers and more books that will delve into Indian cinema and hopefully inspire a new generation of artists, critics and commentators. I’m grateful to A Suitable Agency for helping to make this happen.”
Meanwhile, Hemali Sodhi, Founder-A Suitable Agency, said, “Indian Cinema is an integral part of our everyday lives, and is full of incredibly dedicated and passionate individuals who make some of these stories come alive. With FilmInk, we aim to support talented writers who can chronicle the lives and the craft of some of the luminaries, and showcase some of the most iconic moments of Indian cinema. At A Suitable Agency, we are always looking for extraordinary voices and stories and I’m thrilled by this opportunity to collaborate with Film Companion to create FilmInk— a unique grant dedicated to writing on cinema in India.”
The jury for this year's Film Ink grant includes: award-winning writer Balaji Vittal, author-journalist Deepanajana Pal, and film critic-journalist Uday Bhatia.
The applicants need to submit their details proposal which is based on the Indian film culture, cleary outlining the moment/artist from the Indian film industry they want to focus on. The jury will then announce a shortlist of six candidates, who are expected to present their proposal to them. From this shortlist, two writers will be awarded the grant.
The submission date for Film Ink grant is open till August 15, 2023.
