Some films do more than entertain—they challenge set norms, address injustice, and inspire change. Filmmakers and critics discuss the power of cinema as a voice of change. This year, Ananke’s Festival of Literature is organizing a first-of-its-kind series of sessions in collaboration with celebrated journalist, author and editor, Manju Ramanan, bringing together South Asian female filmmakers who will explore how storytelling on screen can challenge existing systems and influence change. They will discuss how cinema has long been a powerful tool of dissent.
Manju Ramanan
Talking about the collaboration and sessions, Manju Ramanan said: “The aim is to harness the power of words, propagate much-needed progressive thought, learn and grow from each other’s experiences, collaborate with voices from across the world to see change and nurture change. The stories of dissent cuts across race, gender, age, nationality and uncovers stories from perspectives not commonly seen. As a thinker, writer and media person, I am looking forward to this association and learn more about varied voices from across the world that use story-telling and its various nuances to drive home a perspective, we might have missed, or draws our attention to a pertinent issue we need to educate ourselves with.”
The three-day, digital event will commence on April 29th, 2025 and will be live streamed on Ananke’s YouTube page; with links shared on its Facebook page as well. The fifth edition of the festival will feature to pioneering sessions with all-female, South Asian filmmaker panels titled: Reel vs. Real: Filmmaking as a Tool of Protest and Power and Cinema of Dissent: Films That Speak Truth to Power. Distinguished guests include Manju Ramanan, Barnali Ray Shukla, Feryal Ali Gauhar, Joshinder Chaggar, Shazia Khan, and Ayesha Farooq.
The panel is aligned with this year’s theme Speaking Truth to Power. Not just a theme—it is a call to reflection and action. In a world of misinformation, the panel addresses the veracity of speech and asks: What role do writers, filmmakers and artists play in strengthening voices of dissent? How can storytelling influence to awaken collective conscience?
Feryal Ali Gauhar
Renowned Pakistani filmmaker and author, Feryal Ali Gauhar said: “I am delighted to be included in the Literature Festival organized by the Ananke Women in Literature Foundation. Working with light and images as a filmmaker has helped me cross over into the world of building images with words. I am looking forward to discussing how my work as a filmmaker and a writer has informed my consciousness as an activist. The conversations around resistance and dissent resonate deeply with the manner in which I have chosen to live my life, making choices which have broken barriers and crafted paths seeking truth and justice.”
The festival will bring together an extraordinary assembly of writers, thinkers, activists, and artists whose work embodies the spirit of speaking truth to power. Through panel discussions, keynote addresses, workshops, and performances, we will delve into the myriad ways literature and art serve as tools for change. Whether through the sharp clarity of investigative journalism, the nuanced storytelling of fiction, or the boldness of spoken word, our sessions will seek to amplify voices that challenge and inspire.
This year’s festival invites you to engage in these vital conversations, to listen and be heard, and to reaffirm the power of truth in shaping a just and compassionate society.
