Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that a decision will soon be taken on the long-pending proposal to have a permanent complex to host film festivals and other cultural events in the State capital.
He was inaugurating the week-long 17t International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) here on Friday.
Mr. Chandy said it was only a few procedural bottlenecks that had held up the proposal for so long. The land proposed for the project, which envisaged a permanent venue for festivals, including the IFFK, was earlier allotted to another project, and proper procedure had to be followed to reallot the land. A decision on the same would be taken without further delay, he said.
Lauding the IFFK for acquiring true international colours and standards over the years, Mr. Chandy said the participation of international delegates and screening of more foreign films that were appreciated well elsewhere were on the rise for the IFFK, and this would help it become an internationally renowned event. Cinema was an art that spoke of, and for, the common man, and the government would extend all possible help to promote the sector.
Delivering the presidential address, Minister for Cinema K.B. Ganesh Kumar said it was with pride that he stood before the gathering, having kept his word during the previous edition of the festival to construct four new cinemas in the State capital for this year’s festival. All efforts were made to keep the costs of the event to a bare minimum, and ensure all possible facilities for the delegates.
State Chalachitra Academy chairman Priyadarshan, who introduced the festival, said the mistakes of the previous edition had been streamlined. He was also the first at the inaugural function to pitch for the permanent festival complex, followed by Mr. Ganesh Kumar, and actor Mohanlal.
Academy secretary K. Manoj Kumar thanked the audience.
