WSU Vancouver Hosts Film Screening

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Washington State University Vancouver will host two films by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, in Multimedia Classroom Building, Room 6.

The event, sponsored by the diversity council, is free and open to the public.  A discussion with Manimekalai will follow the screening.

The first film, “Mathamma,” is a 20-minute documentary that explores the practice of the Arundhati community in Mangattucheri village near Arakkonam, Chennai, (India) which offers female children to the deity Mathamma. The film’s honors include best film awards in both Paris and Norway international documentary film festivals and a silver trophy for the best documentary film in Europe Movies Festival. It was also screened at the 8^th Kolkota International Film Festival in 2002 and at the IVFEST – CDIT International Video Festival in 2003.

The second film, “Parai,” is a 45-minute documentary film on the status of the Dalit population in the village of Siruthondamadevi, Tamil Nadu (India). The film exposes the injustices faced by the people of this community. “Parai” was selected for viewing at the Chicago Women in Director’s Chair International Film Festival in 2004 as well as the VIKALP International Films for Freedom, Mumbai (India). 

An engineering graduate turned filmmaker, Manimekalai brings to bear the creative flair necessary for a media technician. Having scripted, directed, acted and choreographed plays in college, Manimekalai plans to channel her creative energies in the visual medium. 

For more information on Manimekalai, visit https://www.kanavuppattarai.com.

WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134^th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205. Parking rules are enforced 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking is available at parking meters or in the blue lot for $2.