THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The 21st International Film Festival of Kerala will feature 21 Malayalam films by 18 directors in various categories. ‘Manhole’ by Vidhu Vincent and ‘When The Woods Bloom’ by Dr Biju will represent Malayalam Cinema in the International Competition Category.
Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s contributions for the past 50 years in Malayalam cinema will be honoured at IFFK with the screening of his movie ‘Once Again’ (Pinneyum) under ‘Adoor 50 Years’. Director K S Sethumadhavan’s outstanding contributions to the Malayalam film industry too will be acknowledged at IFFK.
The category ‘Malayalam Retro: K S Sethumadhavan’ is designed to screen his movies ‘Adimagal’, ‘The Other Side’ (Maruppakam), ‘Oppol’, ‘Punnarjanmam’, and ‘Anubhavangal Paalichakal’.Another category ‘Malayalam Cinema Today’ will feature the movies ‘6 feet’(Aaradi) directed by Saji Palamel Sreedharan, ‘Godsay’ directed by Sherrey Govindan and Shyju Govind, ‘Ka Bodyscapes’ by Jayan Cherian, ‘Kammatipaadam’ by Rajeev Ravi, ‘Kismath’ by Shanavas Bavakutty, ‘Lives Elsewhere’ (Mohavalayam) by T V Chandran, ‘Mahesh’s Revenge’ (Maheshinte Prathikaram) by Dileesh Pothan. Out of the 11 movies to be screened in the Homage section, six are Malayalam movies. ‘Thanichalla Njan’ by Babu Thiruvalla, ‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ by Sibi Malayil, ‘Traffic’ by Rajesh Pillai, ‘Naarayam’ by Sasi Shanker, ‘Perumazhakaalam’ by Kamal and ‘Avaluda Raavukal’ by I V Sasi will be screened in this category.
Censorship seminar
A seminar on censorship issues, a major topic of discussion, will be held on the sidelines of 21st IFFK. Shyam Benagal will deliver the keynote address at the seminar dedicated to the memory of the late P K Nair. Censor Board former CEO Pankaj Thakur, former member Anjum Rajabali, documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma, directors Deepa Dhanraj, B Unnikrishnan, Jayan Cherian and film critic V C Harris will particiapte. C S Venkiteswaran will be the moderator of the seminar scheduled to be held on December 11 at Appolo Dimora at 11 am. Two more seminars - one on ‘Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s 50 years in cinema’ and the other on ‘Small budget films in the flamboyant world of cinema’ - will be held on December 12 and 14.
Delegate pass distribution
Passes for the registered delegates of IFFK will be distributed from December 6. Cultural Affairs Minister A K Balan will inaugurate the function by handing over the IFFK pass to actor Manju Warrier at Tagore theatre at 11 am. Counted as the first transgender-friendly fest, IFFK had a column for transgenders in the delegate registration form. The first pass, in this section, will be handed over to activist Sheethal Shyam by Manju Warrier. Cultural Secretary Rani George IAS, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairman Kamal and Chalachitra Academy vice-chairperson Bina Paul will attend the ceremony.
Going global
‘Manhole’ by Vidhu Vincent and ‘When The Woods Bloom’ by Dr Biju will represent Malayalam cinema in the International Competition Category.