A story of hope in Iraq of two young brothers during the Saddam Hussein regime. In that world where fantasy meets reality and humane stories that cinemas of the world thrive on, Bangaloreans can hope to catch a glimpse of what the rest of the world has watched this year, at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, opening today. The opening film is Iraq’s Bekas directed by Karzan Kader.
The festival, in its sixth edition, organised by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, takes off today evening at a ceremony to be inaugurated by actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan. Regular screenings start Friday morning and are on till January 2.
With just three months, and Rs. two crore to put together a selection of films that will please a cross-section of people who demand the best of cinema once a year, is no mean task. There are about 300 students already registered to attend the festival, and the total number of delegates expected is well over 3,500. More than 150 volunteers are helping put the show together.
H.N. Narahari Rao, artistic director of BIFFES 2013 says films have been carefully selected by two film education and critics associations — Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) and the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) — from international film festivals held in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Locarno, and others.
There are various categories that will helm together over 160 films from 52 countries. In terms of what we have to offer to the world, there’s a Kannada Cinema (Competition section) with popular films like Lucia and Jatta being featured. The Indian Cinema (Competition section) called Chitra Bharathi will feature films in Marathi, Bengali, Kashmiri, Mising, Malayalam. Then there’s a smorgasbord of Asian Cinema selected through the NETPAC Competition section.
With so many movies hitting you in such a short span, how do you pick and choose what you want to watch? National award-winning film critic M.K. Raghavendra believes it all depends on what you’re looking for. But get a hold of the festival catalogue first. “If you feel awards are an indication of the worth of a movie, go for that. Some of the movies coming to the festival are well-known so people automatically choose them. If you have some knowledge of films, you would perhaps do well to pick country-wise — Chinese and Japanese films are a pretty good choice. I’m a fan of Russian cinema, so I’ll watch only those. Film in the retrospective sections will give a good idea to students of cinema. Personally I would avoid collaborative multiple-country movies because they give the Westerner’s point of view! A lot of the films are by first-time filmmakers and you may find they will become famous by next year,” he laughs.
“Usually the section that is a major attraction at all festivals is the ‘Cinema Of The World’ category. We have searched and selected critically acclaimed films made in 2012/2013 from various international festivals that gives people an idea of the kind of contemporary cinema being made the world over” says Rao. On offer will be films from France, Germany, Italy, Egypt, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Russia, Denmark, Slovakia, Hungary, Canada, Turkey, Sweden and more.
“For the first time we have films from Latvia, Georgia, and Mongolia participating. We have about six Latin American, and African countries represented,” adds Rao. Saudi Arabia, for the first time, has sent a film, Wadjda — it’s first film completely shot in the country, directed by a woman, and the country’s first ever entry into the Oscars.
In a tie-up with Max Mueller Bhavan, a ‘Festival In Festival’ of German films has taken shape, with five German films that were screened at Bavaria’s Hof festival being shown. Films from two countries – Poland and Taiwan — will form the focus of country-wise select films.
A retrospective of films of Sri Lankan actor Malini Fonseka, and a retrospective section on director Goran Paskaljevic is on offer. Both Malini and Goran are attending the festival in Bangalore. There’s a Special Genre section that features films based on the theme of trains.
While there’s an attempt to bring contemporary world cinema to the city, one never forgoes or forgets the classics. “Remembering Dr. Rajkumar” will feature the Kannada thespian’s super hits. The Revisiting Classics series will take you through Japanese Samurai Films, Italian Neo Realism, and landmark films of Bimal Roy. A special homage section is dedicated to Rituparno Ghosh, D. Rajendra Babu, and Sundarnath Suvarna, with a film by each.
Master classes, panel discussions, and seminars on marketing regional films in international markets, digital cameras, sound capture on location are also on the cards. The closing film, on January 2, 2014 is the Australian film The Rocket .
This year around, BIFFES is also introducing the audience award — you can cast your vote in a given form at any of the seven screens. There are about 300 students already registered to attend the festival, and the total number of delegates expected is well over 3,500. More than 150 volunteers are helping put the show together.
For details and screening schedule check www.biffes.in
Screening venues:
*Fun Cinemas, Sigma Mall, Cunningham Road
*Inox Lido, Lido Mall, Ulsoor
*Sulochana, Dept of Information, Infantry Road
*Priyadarshini, Badami House, opp BBMP HQ, NR Square
A pick of popular international films:
*A Touch of Sin
*Blue is The Warmest Colour
*Young & Beautiful
*Gloria
*A Simple Life
*Waiting For The Sea
*Ilo Ilo
*The Crucified Lovers
