India Release
Kochi: The Opening Show on 21 Aug 2015
- Multi-award winning documentary ALGORITHMS released across India today! Director & Producer attend Kochi PVR Lulu screening followed by Meet the Press
- Algorithms, the first ever feature documentary on Blind Chess, directed by Ian McDonald and produced by Geetha J released theatrically today across seven cities in India – Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kochi.
- Ian McDonald and Geetha J were present at the screening in Kochi today. Speaking to the press, Ian McDonald said, “I made Algorithms to tell the story of the hidden but thriving community of blind chess players of India. But this story is not just about blindness or chess, it deals with emotions that are universal. Everybody can relate to the film.”
- A former journalist who has worked for Indian Express, The Hindu, Asianet and Kairali in Kerala, and herself a filmmaker, Geetha J is the producer and creative collaborator of the multi award-winning documentary. Algorithms is produced under the banner AkamPuram, Trivandrum and most of its crew are from Kerala, including editor Ajithkumar B and sound engineer Harikumar N.
- Algorithmshas been made with the cooperation of the All-India Chess Federation for the Blind. It is supported by TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) in India, FIDE (the World Chess Federation) and Newcastle University, UK.
Mumbai: The Press Preview on 18 Aug 2015
- Multi-award winning documentary ALGORITHMS has its Press Preview in Mumbai
- Important film personalities, totally blind champion player turned pioneer Charudatta Jadhav and the filmmakers attended the preview screening of multi award winning documentary on 18 Aug in Mumbai. Charudatta is a key protagonist of the documentary on young blind chess players of India and is the general secretary of the All India Chess Federation for the Blind.
- Speaking at the Mumbai press preview, Ian McDonald said, “Mumbai is where the shoot began in 2009 and ended in 2012. In the city of ‘Bollywood’, I thank the press for finding time for documentaries.”
- Algorithms has received seven awards, a Grierson nomination, screened in over thirty festivals and released theatrically in the US and UK. Algorithms received a four star review in the Guardian and a fantastic review in BFI’s Sight and Sound.
Chennai: The Launch on 9 Aug 2015
- Five-time World Chess Champion and Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand launches the release of multi-award winning documentary ALGORITHMS!
- Five-time World Chess Champion and Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand launched the preview of Algorithms by Ian McDonald by playing a friendly blind blitz match with totally blind champion player turned pioneer Charudatta Jadhav to inaugurate the first-ever audio described theatrical preview of a film in India for a blind and visually impaired audience on 9 Aug in Chennai. Charudatta is a key protagonist of the documentary on young blind chess players of India. Viswanathan Anand’s moves were made by Sai Krishna who also features in Algorithms.
- “I congratulate Ian and Geetha on a great movie. Algorithms shows how chess is accessible to the blind and the passion they have for the game. It is also a very poignant film which everyone can relate to, the emotions are universal,” said Viswanathan Anand in his inaugural address.
- Charudatta stated that this moment was a dream come true for him, as he had always wanted to play with Anand. He was also full of praise for the dedication and commitment of filmmaker Ian McDonald saying, “He travelled everywhere including rural areas with us for three years. He has made an amazing observational documentary on blind chess players.”
- For Ian McDonald, this was an emotional moment as he brought his multi-award winning film that had screened in international film festivals around the world, back to a blind and visually impaired audience in Chennai. “It is an honour to have Anand launch our release here in Chennai, his home town and the mecca of Chess.”
- The inauguration was followed by a screening of Algorithms with audio description to a full house of blind and visually impaired audience.