Internationally acclaimed writer-director Biswanath Rath has made history at the 77th edition of the Festival de Cannes (Cannes Film Festival) by showcasing and promoting the lesser-known handloom traditions of Odisha. With a career spanning over a decade, Rath is renowned for his short films, documentaries, and music videos that have represented India and Asia at various international film festivals and on OTT platforms worldwide. This year, he has achieved several milestones, bringing global attention to Odisha’s rich artisan heritage.
In his first visit to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, which attracts between 35,000 and 40,000 attendees annually, Rath ensured that he represented not only his award-winning film production company, BnR Films, but also the art, craft, culture, and traditions of Odisha, along with its burgeoning film industry. On May 22, 2024, Rath achieved multiple milestones, notably by launching posters of his upcoming feature-documentary “Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death???” The documentary highlights the Habaspuri Handloom, a unique and near-extinct tradition from Kalahandi district in Odisha. This follows his previous acclaimed documentary “Kotpad Weaving: The Story of a Race Against Time,” marking another significant step in Rath’s mission to celebrate and preserve Odisha’s artisan legacy.
“Habaspuri Weaving” was featured among the final 12 documentary projects out of 98 international entries in the NFDC Film Bazaar (Goa) last year. Now, the project is supported by the NFDC Film Bazaar Documentary Co-Production Market 2023. While Rath is producing and creatively supervising this documentary under BnR Films, it is directed by Mayur Mahapatra. The research team includes Rath, textile designer Anupriya Mridha, US-based textile enthusiast Corinn Flaherty, Mahapatra, Siddhant Swaroop, and Debasish Pratihari.
In a historic first for Odisha and India’s handloom traditions, Rath showcased Kotpad Handloom, a revered tribal textile from Koraput, Odisha, by wearing a Kotpad Kurta at Cannes. This gesture, appreciated by the Kotpad handloom weavers who gifted him the kurta, symbolizes Rath’s tribute to the entire Kotpad handloom ecosystem, including dyers, weavers, textile designers, customers, NGOs, textile brands, and government organizations working to preserve this tradition.
Rath expressed his joy and pride in participating in the Cannes Film Festival, emphasizing the memorable experience of watching selected films, meeting global filmmakers, and promoting Odisha’s cultural heritage. He highlighted Cannes’ reputation for its red-carpet events and high-end fashion, noting that his showcase of sustainable fashion added a unique twist to the festival’s legacy.
The poster launch of “Habaspuri Weaving” was a significant moment for Rath and his team. Initiated in 2019, this documentary is a spiritual successor to “Kotpad Weaving,” exploring the challenges and potential revival of the Habaspuri Handloom tradition and its weavers. Rath thanked his supporters, including his family, friends, fans, and the entire BnR Films team, for their role in achieving this milestone.
Internationally acclaimed writer-director Biswanath Rath has made history at the 77th edition of the Festival de Cannes (Cannes Film Festival) by showcasing and promoting the lesser-known handloom traditions of Odisha. With a career spanning over a decade, Rath is renowned for his short films, documentaries, and music videos that have represented India and Asia at various international film festivals and on OTT platforms worldwide. This year, he has achieved several milestones, bringing global attention to Odisha’s rich artisan heritage.
In his first visit to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, which attracts between 35,000 and 40,000 attendees annually, Rath ensured that he represented not only his award-winning film production company, BnR Films, but also the art, craft, culture, and traditions of Odisha, along with its burgeoning film industry. On May 22, 2024, Rath achieved multiple milestones, notably by launching posters of his upcoming feature-documentary “Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death???” The documentary highlights the Habaspuri Handloom, a unique and near-extinct tradition from Kalahandi district in Odisha. This follows his previous acclaimed documentary “Kotpad Weaving: The Story of a Race Against Time,” marking another significant step in Rath’s mission to celebrate and preserve Odisha’s artisan legacy.
“Habaspuri Weaving” was featured among the final 12 documentary projects out of 98 international entries in the NFDC Film Bazaar (Goa) last year. Now, the project is supported by the NFDC Film Bazaar Documentary Co-Production Market 2023. While Rath is producing and creatively supervising this documentary under BnR Films, it is directed by Mayur Mahapatra. The research team includes Rath, textile designer Anupriya Mridha, US-based textile enthusiast Corinn Flaherty, Mahapatra, Siddhant Swaroop, and Debasish Pratihari.
In a historic first for Odisha and India’s handloom traditions, Rath showcased Kotpad Handloom, a revered tribal textile from Koraput, Odisha, by wearing a Kotpad Kurta at Cannes. This gesture, appreciated by the Kotpad handloom weavers who gifted him the kurta, symbolizes Rath’s tribute to the entire Kotpad handloom ecosystem, including dyers, weavers, textile designers, customers, NGOs, textile brands, and government organizations working to preserve this tradition.
Rath expressed his joy and pride in participating in the Cannes Film Festival, emphasizing the memorable experience of watching selected films, meeting global filmmakers, and promoting Odisha’s cultural heritage. He highlighted Cannes’ reputation for its red-carpet events and high-end fashion, noting that his showcase of sustainable fashion added a unique twist to the festival’s legacy.
The poster launch of “Habaspuri Weaving” was a significant moment for Rath and his team. Initiated in 2019, this documentary is a spiritual successor to “Kotpad Weaving,” exploring the challenges and potential revival of the Habaspuri Handloom tradition and its weavers. Rath thanked his supporters, including his family, friends, fans, and the entire BnR Films team, for their role in achieving this milestone.
