India, Aug. 18 -- Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, the acclaimed filmmaker behind hits like Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) and Panga (2020), recently joined director Shoojit Sircar on the jury panel for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) to judge the short films category. Reflecting on the importance of supporting emerging talent, she says, "It's necessary to encourage young filmmakers to have a voice and tell stories. This is a great platform because it's an intersection of two countries." The 45-year-old believes such opportunities allow her to learn from the younger generation. "We undermine Gen Z. They're smarter, thoughtful and ask important questions. We should cater to them, while also staying true to our voice as storytellers, because trends come and go." But being part of a jury comes with its fair share of challenges, Ashwiny admits - something that's been evident with the reactions to the recently announced National Film Awards. "When you're in a position of decision-making, there will always be another point of view. It's a cumulative decision. What happens inside the room is entirely the jury's perspective," she shares. When asked if art takes a hit when filmmakers prioritise commerce, she responds, "We need to make sure that while making commercial cinema, there's a return on investment for producers. But at the same time, we must balance creativity and commerce."...