WIFT India gives women in films and television a leg up

Sparsh, 36 Chowringhee Lane, Salaam Bombay, Dhobi Ghat...what's the common link among these award-winning movies? They were films led by female characters in front of the camera and behind, as well. The Hindi film industry is notorious for being a man's world, reluctant to share screen and even directorial and editing space with women. But films like these have paved the way for a new tomorrow, for women in films. With a relative spike in the number of debutant women directors, technicians, art directors, sound engineers etc, 33-year-old Petrina D'Rozario, Founder President of Women in Films and Television, feels the time is now to build a platform for women in the entertainment industry—a time when women are spearheading every aspect of entertainment.

WIFT is an international not-for-profit organisation that began in Los Angeles in 1973 and is dedicated to providing a dynamic global platform to facilitate exchange of ideas, accelerate professional development and recognise the achievement of women in film,television and other screen-based media.

The WIFT India chapter was founded in March 2012, by filmmaker and ad director, Petrina, as a platform for women working in all areas of film, video, and other screen-based media. “Our goal is to increase the number of women in the industry, particularly in technical fields such as editing or cinematography,” says D’Rozario. Petrina's association with the organisation goes back a long way when she moved from Bangalore to New Zealand to work as a features writer in a local newspaper. When she moved back to India with her husband, in 2009, Petrina looked for a WIFT India chapter to seek work in the industry. “The Indian film fraternity is so big but there was no presence of WIFT,” she expressed. For the next year and a half, Petrina dedicated her time and life to create an Indian chapter. Her media background as a producer, documentary director and experience as a journalist helped her in this endeavour.

Collective effort is the operative word, for Petrina. “If everyone is going to wait and watch for the platform to build, it's not going to happen. If Gandhiji hadn't taken that first walk and if everyone wasn't behind him, we would not be where we are,” enunciates Petrina whose warm hazel eyes are a mirror of determination and resolve.   Internationally, the association has organised various forums where people from the industry have extended their help and support to each other to make an entry into showbiz. There are 44 chapters all across the world with over 14,000 members. WIFT, she insists, doesn't ostracise men; it's a stage for women to to come together and work towards a common goal. WIFT India has 11 advisory board members with the likes of Kiran Rao, Anupama Chopra, Jeroo Mulla, Lynn DeSouza and many more. There are three board members including Petrina. Film critic and editor, Uma da Cunha and media relations professional Riddhi Wallia are the other members.

The association doesn’t want to be known as a sorority but aims to provide opportunities to other women to interact as well as network, helping them grow in the field. “If a media student joins us, we ensure that she meets people like Kiran Rao, Zoya Akhtar and the likes. This gives the student a chance to learn from them,” says Petrina.

The biggest roadblock, however, for WIFT is pumping money into advertising. Situated only in Mumbai, Petrina feels the noise is reaching locally to those who have jobs and are self-sufficient, and do not need a platform as much as women who are outside the city. But she is quick to add that there are many who are willing to help them and provide venues at low or no cost to hold various events as it is for a good cause. The association aims to have events - workshop, film screenings, and discussion forms – every two weeks. Her senior-most member is a 75-year-old producer, Mrs. Kanitkar, who, Petrina believes is also their strongest supporter.

WIFT is not here to break gender stereotypes instead the idea is to co-exist. Book reading sessions, the RED DOT Film Festival, Saturday Night Fever... Petrina is leaving no stone unturned to make WIFT India a strong body, one that supports the right causes of women in films and television. With a strenght of 500 members, Petrina says she is hopeful WIFT’s numbers will rise.

“We have kept membership low at Rs 2,000 a year for professionals and Rs 700 for students,” she says. “We would love to have many more than what we have currently.”