Over 11 hours, in 13 movies, Sikh culture was highlighted in Cubberley Auditorium on Saturday.

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John Shen

Audiences screened films about Sikhism and the Sikh identity at the Spinning the Wheel Sikh Film Festival this weekend

The movie marathon was the second-annual Spinning Wheel Film Festival, an event sponsored by the Stanford Sikh Students Association.

“The medium of film helps convey the Sikh culture to a very broad audience,” said Manvir Singh ‘07, president of the Stanford Sikh Students Association.

The featured films ranged from “Who Do You Think You Are?” — a documentary by acclaimed “Bend It Like Beckham” director Gurinder Chadha — to the post-Sept. 11 drama “The Gold Bracelet” to the animated feature “Saka Sirhind.” The festival played host to a number of different film genres and styles, while providing illuminating insight into the Sikh experience — from centuries past to the modern day.

From “Who Do You Think You Are?”, which examined British Sikhs’ cultural experiences, to “A Dream in Doubt,” which focused on hate crimes against Sikhs following Sept. 11, the films touched on powerful experiences in the lives of Sikhs.

The films were shown in clusters of three to four hours, with each cluster aimed at a specific age group. The festival also gave viewers the opportunity to interact with some of the films’ actors and directors in post-film question and answer sessions.

“It was excellent,” said Apar Bolaria, a software engineer from San Mateo who brought his entire family to the festival. “I really liked ‘The Gold Bracelet’ and, because I grew up in England, I enjoyed ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ as well. The film was told quite well and not necessarily in a traditional documentary style.”

Stanford Sikh Student Association members and other volunteers were on-hand throughout the day to distribute tickets and answer questions. Mantaj Rajpal, a student from Cupertino High School, volunteered to help because of his experience at last year’s festival.

“I came here last year and I really liked the movies,” he said.

Sikhism, a 16th century religion with its roots in northern India, has more than 23 million adherents worldwide. Most Sikhs live in the Indian state of Punjab. The religion’s philosophy centers on egalitarianism and inner devotion.

There is a feeling among Sikhs that a lack of awareness among the general public has contributed to a post-Sept. 11 backlash against the religious community. The Spinning Wheel Film Festival was founded in Toronto, Canada four years ago in an effort to combat this ignorance and to spread knowledge of Sikh culture.

Singh expressed hope that the film festival and other Stanford Sikh Students Association activities would raise student awareness about Sikhs on campus.

“The film festival will help students understand how the Sikh community fits into the larger quilt of the Stanford community,” he said.

The association has planned a celebration for Lohri — a traditional Punjab holiday — in the Lake Lagunita barbeque area next Saturday and plans to sponsor a Student Initiated Course on Sikhism next quarter.

Contact Andrew Valencia at andrewv1@stanford.edu.