The 8th Chennai International Film Festival, to be held between December 15 and 23, will be bigger this year, both in terms of the number of movies to be screened and the film personalities expected to attend the event.
Announcing this to media persons here on Thursday, B.Ramakrishnan, president of Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), which is organising the event, said the festival is being supported this year by the Film Federation of India (FFI) and South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC).
The advisory committee comprises Tamil Nadu Film Producers' Council president Ramanarayanan, actors Revathi, Mohan, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Rohini and Khusbhoo, directors P.Vasu and Gautam Vasudev Menon, FFI president L.Suresh, editor B.Lenin, cinematographer B.Kannan, South Indian Film Artistes' Association president Sarath Kumar, SIFCC president C.Kalyan and secretary Ravi Kottarakara, and producer Katragadda Prasad.
ICAF secretary E.Thangaraj said that the State government has agreed to sponsor the festival and give Rs.25 lakh for it. “For the first time, the film personalities have come forward to raise funds for the event and are also providing creative support to make it a grand event. This would help us grow,” he said.
Nearly 20 Tamil feature films would participate in the competitive category. The festival would feature world cinema, retrospectives of famous directors, tributes to veteran film personalities, premieres of various movies and an exclusive Indian Panorama.
The films will be screened at four theatres – Woodlands, Woodlands Symphony, Inox and South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce theatre. A red carpet reception' will be held every day during the festival, which will have invited guests watching special shows.
The opening film of the festival is ‘South Kitchen,' a German film. Nearly 130 films from 40 countries will be screened during the nine-day event. Ms.Revathi said a special memento for the overall winner in the competitive category has been designed by Cholamandalam Artist Village secretary S.Nandagopal. Calling the film fraternity to get together to make the festival a global event, Mr.Sarath Kumar said that it would provide a platform for Indian and international cinema to exchange ideas. ICAF vice-chairman S.Ve.Sheker, and actors Parthiban, Radhika Sarath Kumar, Ms.Suhasini, Lizzy Priyadarshan, Mr.Mohan and Poornima Bhagyaraj were present at the event.
