SRINAGAR: A film depicting violence against Kashmiri women during the years of conflict will be judged at the 3rd Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival, its director says.
The documentary “Ocean of Tears” was stopped from being screened at the University of Kashmir in December, leading to protests by students.
Police had said it contained “disturbing scenes which could lead to violence”.
The 27-minute film focuses on physical, psychological and sexual violence against women in the Kashmir valley, where tens of thousands have died during over two decades of armed conflict, which is now waning.
The film, sponsored by India’s information and broadcast ministry, also narrates incidents of rape which allegedly involved security forces – like the 1991 incident in Kunan-Poshpora villages in north Kashmir, where soldiers reportedly barged into several houses, drove out men and raped many women.
Its director, Bilal Ahmed Jan says it is for the first time that a film depicting such incidents was cleared by the Central Board of film Certification.
“The film showcases eye opening facts about spine chilling events of crimes against women. It depicts how they learn to deal with their past and the coming year of further battle against the power structures (sic),” Jan said in a statement.
The film has been selected under the competition category at the film festival in Nepal, to be held from Feb 21 and 23.
It will be Jan’s second film to be selected for an international film festival.
His short film “The Lost Childhood” was screened during the Tehran international film festival in 2008.
