BENGALURU: The Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy is preparing to host The Seventh Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) from December 4 to 11.
Information minister, Roshan Baig, in a press meet held at Vartha Bhavana said the films will be shown across 10 screens in and around Central Bengaluru. Around 150 films from 50 countries, which will also include Kannada, Indian and Asian films will be showcased, he said.
Taking a few suggestions from the media, Roshan Baig told the organisers to fix the dates for the Bangalore International Film Festival and make it a prestigious festival in the country. “I don’t like to make false promises. Our BIFFes will definitely meet international standards. I will ask them to take up work for the next year right after this festival gets over. We were keen to have the festival under one roof. Unfortunately, when I took over as an information minister, I went and inspected the Amrutha Mahotsava building and was not satisfied with the way it was getting constructed and asked them to stop. We need a good place to screen movies. We will definitely look into this matter,” he said.
Apart from film screening, the festival will also host exhibitions, seminars and master.
Delegate registration will start from November 10 and will be done at Badami House, Information Department on Infantry Road, Suchitra Film Society at BSK I Stage and on Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce premises. The delegate fee is `600 for public and `300 for students, film society members, senior citizens and KFCC members. Online registrations will also be available.
Kinchiff for children
Apart from BIFFes the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy has taken an initiative to organise the first International Children’s Film Festival called Kinchiff.
Vasant Mokashi, Creative director of Kinchiff said, “Every kid wants to have fun and they are mischievous. When we thought about children and their temperament, we finalised 15 films. What is special about this festival is that most of the films are made by women directors.”
Shalini Rajneesh, principal secretary of Kannada and Culture Department, who was at the meet said, “We have arranged for DVDS which will be provided during the film festivals for screening purpose in smaller villages and taluks.”
Vasant Mokashi was happy to announce that the children’s films will be held across the state, which according to him is the first such initiative in the country. We are attempting to screen movies throught the state and this children’s festival will be a test run. “This way, children throughout the state will watch the same film at the same time. We are using satellites for screening the films all over the state. We have requested the producers to give us the films in a digital format, which they have agreed to. We want to make the children’s festival a continuous process,” he said.
As many as 15 films will be screened at Kinchiff. “We had planned to include Santosh Sivan’s film, Malli, but it was not available on a digital format so we had to withdraw. We are now going to start the festival with an American film, Touching Wild Horses. As for Kannada films, we have chosen CSFI produced Alegalu and Abhay Simha’s Gubachigalu. The producer of Gubachigalu has the film in 35 mm picture format and wants us to convert into a digital format. We will make the copy and screen the film,” he said.
The festival will be held from November 14 to 20 and will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on November 13 and actor Arjun Sarja will be the Chief Guest.
Haggade Kone and Harivu to be screened at Delhi International Film Festival
Haggada Kone and Harivu have made it to the third Delhi International Film Festival, which is scheduled from December 20 to 27 at New Delhi. Haggada Kone, jointly produced by Dayal and Umesh Banakar is based on a popular play written by Parvathavani. The film has Naveen Krishna playing the lead with Suchendra Prasad, among others playing prominent roles. Music is scored by Gowtham Srivatsa. Harivu, produced by Aspect Media Network is directed by Mansore, who has also written the screenplay of the film.