Goa :For pioneer of new wave cinema Jiri Menzel, humour has worked on one of the most basic and ancient cinema making techniques: a crank-operated camera and silent cinema.

The switch from silent cinema to digital technology has been a great journey he said at a press conference held at the media centre.

“I am happy in my life that I could follow all the developments in the film industry,” Menzel said.

His Oscar-nominated Czech comedy film ‘The Don Juans’, was the opening film of the festival. Menzel was also awarded with a Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution to cinema at a glittering ceremony held here in Panaji.

Menzel also said that humour was one of the most important things in life while underscoring his use of humour in his films.

“Humour is the most important thing, whether it is life or cinema. Violence is depressing,” the master Oscar award winning director who has made films like ‘Closely watched trains’ also said.

Source : Lokesh Shastri