The marketing section of 18th IFFK has completed the groundwork to host Malayalam film festivals in London, New York and Los Angeles. “The proposal will be submitted to the government on Friday through Chalachitra Academy chairman Priyadarshan,” said actor Raveendran, Chalachitra Academy general council member and chairman of the Malayalam cinema marketing committee.
He added that the first and major objective of ‘Marketing Malayalam Cinema’ initiative is to provide a platform for Malayali filmmakers to showcase their films in front of various representatives. “Though the marketing section was started a couple of years ago, this is the first time we have come out with some positive output,” he said.
Raveendran said that talks are on to arrange a Malayalam film section during Milan Expo 2015 also. “The theme of Milan Expo 2015 is food and environment, and we plan to take a package of films that reflect the theme there. The discussions are already on. We are trying for a tie-up with Doha Institute so that they will provide theatres and hospitality,” he said.
Representatives of Indian festivals from various parts of the globe have been briefed on new Malayalam cinema and provided with DVDs of films as part of the mart.
“All the films being screened at IFFK in various sections will be made into various theme-based packages to be pitched. We have already set the stage and expect things to take off in a while,” Raveendran added.
He said that Project Pitching, a new initiative launched as part of this year’s IFFK, had immense response from film aspirants. “We have already received 43 scripts. From that, a number of scripts will be shortlisted by a committee.”
He said all the Malayalam entries for IFFK were part of the film mart. “We have arranged for out-of-theatre screening facilities of over 70 Malayalam films in and out of the festival and provided DVDs for the representatives. Some producers and directors opted for hiring a theatre for the screening and those films were screened at Devi Priya,” he said.