Algorithms
India/2012/96mins/Hindi, Tamil and Oriya with English subtitles
Direction, Camera and Editing by Ian McDonald
Original Music by Prasanna
Produced by Geetha J for Akampuram
Website : http://www.algorithmsthedocumentary.com
Watch Trailer
Synopsis
In India, a group of boys dream of becoming Chess Masters, driven by a man with a vision. But this is no ordinary chess and these are no ordinary players. Algorithms is a documentary on the thriving but little known world of Blind Chess in India. Filmed over three years from just before the World Junior Blind Chess Championship in Sweden in 2009 to just after the next championship in Greece in 2011, it follows three talented boys from different parts of India and a totally blind player turned pioneer who not only aims to situate India on a global stage but also wants all blind children to play chess. Algorithms is the first ever feature documentary on Blind Chess.
Awards
Best Film at Film South Asia 2013, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Best Editing Award at the Mumbai International Film Festival, India.
Best Story Award at the Krasnogorski International Festival of Sport Movies, Moscow, Russia.
Awarded the Prix du Culturel Immateriel at the Jean Rouch International Film Festival, Paris, France.
Audience Award at RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Films, Edinburgh.
Special Mention at Durban International Film Festival, South Africa.
Screenings
Göttingen International Ethnographic Film Festival, Germany. 28 May-1 June 2014
Imagine India International Film Festival, Madrid, Spain. 17-31 May 2014
Canadian Sport Film Festival, Toronto, Canada. 16-18 May. 2014
Institute of Mathematical Science, Chennai, India. 17 April 2014
Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, India. 16 April 2014
Krasnogorski International Festival of Sport Films, Moscow. Winner – Best Story Award. 28 Mar-2 Apr 2014
World Film Festival, Tartu, Estonia. 15-22 Mar 2014
Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, India. 22 Feb 2014
Vikalp@Alliance Francaise, Mumbai, India. 12 February 2014
Mumbai International Film Festival, India. Winner – Best Editing Award. 3-9 Feb 2014
Dhaka International Film Festival, Bangladesh. 10-18 Jan 2014
Culture Lab, Newcastle University, UK. 5 Dec 2013
Cinecity, the Brighton Film Festival, UK. 14 Nov-1 Dec
FIDE World Chess Championship in Chennai, India. 21 Nov 2013
International Children’s Film Festival of India, Hyderabad, India. 14-20 Nov 2013
Jean Rouch International Film Festival, Paris, France. Winner – Prix du Patrimoine Culturel Immateriel. 9-15 Nov 2013
Asiatica Mediale Festival, Rome, Italy. 12-20 Oct 2013
Nordic Anthropological Film Festival, Bilbao, Spain. 9-12 Oct 2013
International Festival of Ethnographic Films, Belgrade, Serbia. 4-8 Oct 2013
Film South Asia 2013 at Kathmandu, Nepal. Winner – Ram Bahadur Trophy for Best Film. 3-6 Oct 2013
Durban International Film Festival. Winner – Special Mention (Best Documentary). 18-28 July 2013
RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Films in Edinburgh, UK. Winner – Dogwoof Audience Film Prize. 13-16 June 2013
International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala. 7-11 June 2013
Sydney Film Festival 2013. 5-16 June 2013
International Film Festival of India. 20-30 Nov 2012
