In Conversation with Jennifer Alphonse

By Nirmala Garimella

Jennifer Alphonse is an International Award winning Writer, Filmmaker, documentary photographer, Founder and CEO at Jen Productions. 

Jennifer is the first Asian female filmmaker to have gone to Afghanistan to shoot a feature film, "Habeeb" which is currently under completion.

An MBA graduate who did her Film Appreciation Course in India's prestigious Film School FTII, Pune, she believes that the visual medium is the most influential medium and pursues telling visual stories in different formats. She strikes a perfect balance between Fiction and non fiction work.

Her first Short fiction film "Kachra" won her 3 prestigious Golden Nandi State Awards for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Child Actor along with several other International Awards. Her second short film "Strangers" was selected at the Cannes Short Film Corner and went on to win more than 17 international awards in various categories, and in 2016 her first documentary film "The Take Over" also got screened at the Cannes Festival short film corner segment and went on to win more than 12 International awards. She has done several Ads, commercials, music videos etc.

For her non fiction work she travels extensively searching for endangered indigenous cultures, photographs and documents their traditions, age old customs from her country (India). Her years of documentation to raise awareness about them has resulted in a first of its kind documentary featurette "Nagoba Jathara" which was screened at various International Film Festivals and won many awards across the globe. Her recent Documentary film is "Gussadi, - Celebration of being God". while working for this documentary film, Jennifer also collected hundreds of photographs, and published it as a first of its kind tribal based coffee table book in India, called "Gussadi – Celebration of Being God"which is now available on amazon. The Proceeds from the book goes back to these tribes in a hope that it will help them in someway to retain their culture,

I spoke to Jennifer during my recent trip to Hyderabad, India

What stirred your passion for film making especially for tribal communities

I remember in 2013 Diwali was around the corner, and at a local community centre I stumbled up on this ancient tribe called "Gonds" (from Telangana) performing this spectacular, centuries-old tradition called “Gussadi”. It completely fascinated me by its enchantment, mythic history and biting satire. For the very first time I saw the Gussadis performing the dance of the Gods. The rhythmic and robust movements with the accompaniment of the tribal music, was mesmerising, not just made it an exquisite sight to watch but moved me from within. That’s when I decided that these stories must be told. So I decided to document these stories by both taking pictures and making short video documentary films to raise awareness about these indigenous cultures, communities, and the environment..My journey started and it was no looking back from then.. Capturing unique aspects of different cultures around the world is something that I have started enjoying so now it's not just the tribes from my state of Telangana I want to explore other indigenous communities across the world. I recently visited the Maasai Tribes from Kenya and my list will go on, it has just begun.

What has been your experience? Share with us a story?

In this 9yrs journey, I must say I had been blessed with amazing like minded people joining me, in making this journey a remarkable one. It’s such a privilege to photograph, record and raise awareness about conservation of biodiversity and on forgotten communities, their lives and their progress. It has resonated a phenomenal connection with me. From being a total stranger to becoming almost one of their family members..I feel blessed and ever grateful for their love and respect. I have seen many photographers and filmmakers come take pictures/videos and never get back to these people, that's the reason I want to dedicate my book to them. I want them to see it and feel proud of who they are and what their true identity is, so that the future generations of this tribe and students across the world can access and learn from the wonders of these tribes and their traditions.

Tell us about the book that you have just published and what you are currently working on

When I finished my Documentary on Gussadi, that’s when the ideas of a Coffee Table book dawned on me, a book that will speak for itself, “an aesthetic photographic document - first of its kind on this subject”. As a book, it would be like a window into their mystic world, the outside world could see what I was seeing, and through this body of work I want to ensure that the legacy of Gussadi and its ancient traditions is preserved in these photographs and stories for future generations, because in these 9 years I witnessed urbanisation in their cultural lifestyles and geography, if they are not documented and preserved, then there is a huge loss of traditional insights. So I am really grateful and glad that we made this book! I have dedicated this book to these tribes. The returns will be going back to them so that it will help them in some way to preserve these traditions. 

Also share  your future plans? What is your hope to disseminate to the larger global audience

I am currently working on my second book and few other documentaries which will be released this year on my Youtube channel, Ofcourse Gussadi will be sent to festivals and it will have its round for screenings..Fiction side - I am almost finishing a feature script and half way through a web series script and few other things in the pipeline. 

My website - www.jenniferalphonse.in

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