BENGALURU: The Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA) is gearing up for the seventh edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) which is scheduled to be held from December 4 to 11. After the inauguration on December 4, movies from around the world will be screened across various theatres and multiplexes in the city.
Govind Nihalani and Suhasini Maniratnam will be the guests of honour at the event, said Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary of Kannada and Culture Department, at the press meet. This year, the festival will focus on the issue of gender violence through screening of films and discussions. “While movies that fit the theme will be screened at Chamundeshwari Studio Auditorium, a one-day seminar on the subject will be organised by some women’s groups under Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane. Suhasini Maniratnam is likely to participate in the exhibitions, seminars and master classes that will be held during the course of the festival,” said N Vidyashankar, artistic director, BIFFes.
The highlight of the festival will be a collection of films that have won awards at international film festivals at Berlin, Cannes, Karlovy Vary, Moscow, Venice, Toronto, Locarno and others. “We have around 170 films coming in from 44 countries. Out of which, 62 films will come under World Cinema while nine films will be screened under the Asian Cinema competition, with 10 films under Indian and Kannada cinemas each. Films made by renowned filmmakers like Zhang Yimou, Jean Luc Godard, Ken Loach, Krzysztof Zanussi, Phillip Noyce and others will be screened at the event,” he further said.
The Kannada films retrospective this year is dedicated to films based on the late author U R Ananthamurthy’s works. The festival will also pay homage to C R Simha, K M Shankarappa, Balu Mahendra and Alain Resnais, while centenary remembrances will be held for Honnappa Bhagvathar and Hunsur Krishnamurthy,” he added.
So far, about 15 foreign delegates, including director Zanussi from Poland, have confirmed their participation. Filmmakers and critics from France, Italy, Germany, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, along with foreign consulate officials and cultural representatives from Delhi and Bengaluru are also expected to be at the event.
Delegate registration has commenced at Badami House, Information Department - Infantry Road, Suchitra Film Society, BSK Stage, and Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. The fee is set at Rs 600 for public and `300 for students, film society members, senior citizens and KFCC members. Online registration facility is also available.