Select films from four major European film festivals are being screened in Delhi, India. On Saturday, 28th March, Swiss ambassador to India, Linus von Castelmur inaugurated the event — result of a collaboration between Embassy of Switzerland in India, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan (German culture centre in Delhi), the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre and the Instituto Cervantes (Spanish Cultural Institute). Thanks to this partnership, some of the best film festivals have sent a few of the most amazing new arrivals to Delhi. However it seems like residents here did not get the memo. Of the 250 seats in the Stein Auditorium at the India Habitat Centre, only a few were occupied — something that the Swiss ambassador took note of. He asserted that with 18 million people living in Delhi, it should not be difficult to fill all the 250 seats. He asked the attendees to spread the word and bring their friends and families.

The four film festivals that the films have been picked from are: Berlinale, Festival del Film Locarno, Rome Independent Film Festival and SEMINICI (Valladolid). Berlinale, or the Berlin International Film Festival is one of the oldest and widely attended in the world and celebrated the 65th anniversary this February. Festival del Film Locarno takes place in the beutiful alpine town of Locarne in Switzerland. Founded in 1946, it is accliamed to discover new talents and find new trends that bring vitality to film industry world wide. Rome Independent Film Festival is a new kid on the block and began in 2001. However, it has already set standards for others around the globe. Just like excuisite food, Italy has a great apetite for impressive films. "West Bank Story" was selected for screening here in 2005 and it went on to win the Oscar for short films in 2007. Beginning in 1956, SEMINICI or the Valladolid International Film Festival had to wrestle against a tough censor regime. However the enthusiasm of a loyal audience kept it going and turned it into a testing ground for banned films.

On the first day, four films were sown. Three of these were short films. AUBUD was an animation masterpiece. Heavily grounded in musical ambience of a Double Bass it showed the performer rising out of the sea. Sea birds, swimmers and a whale were party to the fine music that overtook the sea side morning atmosphere. Spectacular as was the animation and the music, the end was intriguing where a whale comes up to breathe out and in the process releases water through its blow-hole dousing the sun in the process.

As this event continues over the next few days, I hope to catch a glimpse of a vivid art scene brought at my door-step. There are many in India who have for long complained of a film scene dominated by commercial Bollywood entertainment. Here is a chance for them to catch up with the best new films in business from across the globe.