It is a new role for the National award-winning, veteran independent filmmaker Rajeev Nath, the new chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. With just two weeks to go for the 19th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), the Academy and its new chairman is the cynosure of all eyes. Even while cinephiles were warming up to the run-up to the IFFK, which begins on December 12, a storm broke out over the issue of delegate passes. Much has been written and discussed about the topic and the pros and cons of the new system of issuing passes. However, the man who should have been at the centre of the storm is remarkably cool and collected.
During an interview with MetroPlus , Rajeev the award-wining director spells out his concerns and his plans for the Academy and the IFFK.
There was a great deal of confusion over the issue of delegate pass? Why did delegates have to answer questions to get a pass to watch the government-funded IFFK?
There was no need for any confusion. Delegates who have attended the International Film Festival of India know that this is a standard procedure for all those who apply for a pass. In fact, one has to write a paragraph on movies to get a pass for the International Film Festival of India. Moreover, we wanted to have a data base on the composition of the delegates. That is for our records. I want every procedure to be transparent. Of the 9,818 applicants, only six were denied a pass because their forms were incomplete. As of now, 9,812 have been sent their confirmation. The entire controversy was a storm in a tea cup.
So, how does it feel to helm the IFFK that you have attended for many years in different capacities?
To put it in one word: excitement. In a way, I was responsible for proposing the idea of a festival when I was a member of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation in 1996, when the late actor Sukumaran was the chairman of the KFDC and my classmate and friend K. Jayakumar was the managing director then. There was a mention of organising film fetes in the bylaws and since I am the studious kind, I had read it. I wondered aloud why we could not conduct a film festival in Kerala. The late actors M.G. Soman and K.P Ummer backed my proposal and though Sukumaran had doubts about it, we met the then Chief Minister K. Karunakaran who gave us the green signal to go ahead. P.V. Gangadharan assured us of the support of the film fraternity and provide the infrastructure too if we conducted the fete in Kozhikode. We got in touch with P.K. Nair sir and though he was aghast when we heard that we were planning a festival at the last minute, he came on board as the festival director. The festival screened classics that were in the National Film Archives. That was how the first edition of the IFFK was held and it was a success by all accounts. Now, the fete is in its 19th edition. Like every teenager, this has to be handled with care. Moreover, we have to look ahead and plan the future and direction of the IFFK.
So what are your challenges as the Chairman?
Nothing at all. A festival should have good packages and we have that, thanks to our team of programmers here. The highlight of this edition of the IFFK is the presence of many debutant filmmakers from all around the globe.
The focus is on films and young filmmakers. My pick would be the Turkish package. In addition, there is a package of French films, all made in 2013, and a Chinese package too.
In spite of the stringent economic conditions of the Government we are screening 140 films in 11 theatres. Please remember that every screening costs at least 1,500 Euros. So organising a festival of this size is not easy.
That is why we have decided to cut out all extravaganza and concentrate on the movies that will be screened. But each delegate must remember that we are here to watch films and so while all films might not appeal to all the delegates, they must remember to let others watch it without creating a ruckus.
It has been reported that a new system of reservation of seats will be put in place…
All movies will be open for online booking 24 hours before the screening. All that a delegate has to do is reserve his/her seats and then reach a theatre, collect the ticket for the day and watch the films for that day. In case there is a problem for online reservation, there will be facilities and help desks aplenty at all the venues to help delegates. But doors will be closed 10 minutes before a screening and we would not be happy with latecomers.
If a person who has made a booking does not turn up on time, the reservation will be cancelled. One has to remember that screenings cannot be disrupted or affected on account of a few latecomers. No standing or sitting in the aisles will be permitted.
What about plans for a permanent complex for the Academy?
A spot has been identified on the Kovalam bypass near the toll collection centre and we hope to begin work there soon for a permanent structure for the Academy and the IFFK on a two-and-a-half acre plot.
In the meantime, work on the Archives will begin immediately on the KINFRA complex. It will be spread over 40,000 square feet. Actually speaking, those are my prerogatives. It is a dream and I am sure the government will support me.
How is the Academy planning to help young filmmakers? In the past, many new filmmakers made a name by exhibiting and winning awards for their movies.
We hope to help young filmmakers to market their films and take it to a world-wide audience. For this we have instituted a three-member international jury comprising Jacob Wong, Paulo Bertolin and June Givanni. Twelve Malayalam films will be screened for them and they will issue a certificate of excellence for movies that they feel meet international standards. The 12 films comprise seven in the Malayalam Cinema Now category, two in the competition section and three films that were not released last year ( Kaliyachan, Kanyaka Talkies and CR No. 89 ).
Since the government is going through a financial crisis, as of now no cash award has been instituted but we hope to promote the films that get the certificate in major films festivals. Next year we might have a pitch lab, wherein aspiring filmmakers can send their scripts and the best ones will be taken up to be considered for production by well-known banners.
What should delegates look forward to in this edition of the IFFK?
Films with narratives and strong stories. There will be a lot of seminars and discussions but the open forum will not be revived. Sri Lankan film director Sumitra Peries will deliver the Aravindan Memorial Lecture.
