IFFK 2017: A celebration of cinema from across the globe

Identity and space is the focus of the 22nd edition of the IFFK that opens today with a wide range of movies that reflect the world around us and the times we live in

December 07, 2017 12:59 pm | Updated 12:59 pm IST - Thiruvananthapuram

 Delegates coming out of the Tagore theatre after a show

Delegates coming out of the Tagore theatre after a show

“Expectations are high when it comes to the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). And for that reason, for each festival we go that extra mile to bring in a good selection of films. In the choice of films, IFFK has acquired a character and quality both of which is appreciated by audiences,” says Kamal, Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and Festival Director.

Continuity goes hand in hand with change in every edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The week-long fete from December 8 to 15 of cinema from across the globe offers an engaging range of movies.

“While it is extremely gratifying to see the enthusiasm and interest in the Festival, an equally important aspect is the challenge that comes with it. Each year the Festival is growing in numbers. We therefore have had to confine the number of delegates to 10,000. Within four hours of the opening of the online registration, the allocated numbers for the general public were full. So was the case in the other categories,” adds Kamal.

New perspective

 A still from the opening film of IFFK, Insult

A still from the opening film of IFFK, Insult

Third World Cinema has a strong presence in IFFK and reaffirming the commitment to cinemas from the countries under this canopy, a package of contemporary Mexican filmmaker Michel Franco’s works, with a strong penchant for experimentation, features in this edition of the IFFK. The films are Daniel and Ana , Through the Eyes , After Lucia , Chronic and April’s Daughter .

“While the thrust of our selection continues as in previous years, this time the Festival has incorporated a lot of what is new by way of experimentation in film narratives. Human migrations for a host of reasons are an ongoing global phenomenon. There are filmmakers emerging from this group. There is a whole new breed of filmmakers who may not be making films in the country of their birth. They may originally belong to Africa or Asia but now have moved to the continent or the United States. The films that come from the uprooted or displaced experiences open up a new cultural context and perspective,” says Bina Paul Venugopal, Artistic Director and Deputy Chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Live from Dacca , Radio Dreams , Solo Solitude , The Last of Us , Akhirat and Liar’s Dice are the six films that feature in the ‘Identity and Space’ section.

“The highpoint of this year’s festival is the conferring of the Lifetime Achievement Award to renowned Russian filmmaker, Aleksandr Sokurov. Eight films by the director will be screened to complete the picture,” says Bina, giving an overview of the 22nd IFFK. A retrospective of veteran Malayalam filmmaker K.P. Kumaran is an equally significant inclusion this time.

Attractive packages

 A still from Hindi film Liar's Dice

A still from Hindi film Liar's Dice

Activist filmmaker Lino Brocha from Philippines has always opted to portray poverty, corruption and oppression that held a strong grip over the country and that was reason enough for his films facing censorship in his home country. But his films have earned plaudits at international venues. Screening at IFFK will be Insiang , Manila in the Close of Light , and Cain and Abel . Seven films by Mahamet Saleh Haroun of Chad are scheduled for the Filmmaker in Focus package.

The association of Asian Film Awards Academy at the IFFK offers a package of films by young filmmakers.

“Basically, this is an organisation that works towards tie-ups between two countries. Anime-Japanese animation films are also an interesting inclusion this time. Like in earlier years we have chosen restored films, but not stuck to classic films, thereby getting a bigger basket to make our pick. And there is of course the Homage section where I. V. Sasi, K.R. Mohanan, Om Puri and Kundan Shah’s films will figure,” adds Bina.

Fourteen theatres screening 185 films during the week-long festival for 10,000 delegates is indeed a celebration of cinema.

In the fray

 A still from Newton

A still from Newton

14 films compete for the Suvarna Chakoram. They are Candelaria , Dark Wind , Aedan —Garden of Desire , Grain , I Still Hide To Smoke , Malila— The Farewell Flower , Newton , Pomegranate Orchard , Returnee , Symphony For Ana , The World Which We Dream Does Not Exist , Randuper,Wajib and White Bridge

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.