THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) will begin on Friday, albeit on a quieter note in the wake of the death and destruction caused by cyclone Ockhi. The inaugural function and cultural programmes at Tagore Theatre will be cancelled, said Culture Minister A K Balan. However, there won’t be a change in the movie schedule.
The film festival will start with the screening of Lebanese filmmaker Ziad Doueiri’s ‘Insult’ at Nishagandhi Theatre. The minister said the state wanted to make a clear political stance through IFFK. “We give importance to films from third world countries such as Afro-Asian-Latin America.
Ours is different from other big international film festivals which sideline political films and focus on entertainment and commercial values of it,” Balan said.The national anthem will be played before the screening in compliance with the court order, the minister said. An announcement will be made before the screening to remind the delegates of the existing rule.