THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kicking up a new controversy,the ‘Forum for Better Cinema’ came out against the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (KSCA) chairman’s comment on the FIPRESCI awards referring to it as having only ‘’paper value.’’
The objection to KSCA chairman’s comment on the FIPRESCI awards which were given to selected movies screened in the IFFK, was raised by noted filmmakers and forum members Lenin Rajendran, Sasi Paravoor and Dr Biju at a press conference here on Saturday.
“We had read the chairman’s comment in his interview published in a newspaper, the other day. As the academy office-bearer himself had said like this, we have decided to return the FIPRESCI awards won by the forum members. It will be returned during the IFFK in front of the delegates itself,” Lenin Rajendran said.
He said that the decision of the academy and IFFK advisory committee to end FIPRESCI - NETPAC awards should be countered.
“Though the Cinema Minister had said that these awards won’t be discontinued, the Academy officials themselves are saying that these awards for Malayalam films will not be given. It is not yet clear as to the reason behind the new decision. The academy should clarify on the issue,” he said.
“The amusing factor is that the person who heads the advisory committee, which took the decision, has bagged a total of six FIPRESCI awards. It is clearly mentioned in his website itself,” he added.
He also questioned the decision of the IFFK organisers to include three Malayalam movies, which were shown in the last year’s IFFK, to the marketing section and alleged that it is a violation of the guidelines of the festival. “How can they include the movies which had screened in the last year’s IFFK. This is not fair. We are not against the organisers’ decision to give financial assistance to the Malayalam movies in the festival. But it should be transparent and impartial. In this case, the three movies have been included with the aim of pleasing certain people,” Lenin Rajendran alleged.
The organisers had said that the three movies - ‘Kaliyachan’, ‘CR no 89’ and ‘Kanyaka Talkies’ - are included since they were not released in the theatres.
“The festival and the theatre release are different. There are many movies which were not released but screened in the IFFK. If any such concession is given, the other movies which are in a similar position should also be included,” said Sasi Paravoor.
“There are many movies screened in IFFK which were released in theatres but failed in the box office. This issue also should also be addressed,” said Lenin Rajendran. Dr Biju said that the academy should take steps to arrange the release in the movies at government-owned theatres.