This year's State Film Awards ceremony will be held in Kozhikode.
“The State Chalachithra Academy wants to conduct the awards function outside Thiruvananthapuram, the traditional host,” K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Minister in charge of the Kerala Chalachithra Academy, told The Hindu on Saturday. “Chalachithra Academy chairman Priyadarshan told me that the award ceremonies should be held outside the capital as much as possible. He said people across the State should get an opportunity to see Kerala's most prestigious film awards being distributed. I thought it was a good idea and we all agreed to do it in Kozhikode this year. The city has a rich history in, and is passionate about, cinema.”
Mr. Ganesh Kumar said the function would be held next month. “It will be held on a weekend. The date will be announced in a few days,” he said. “Mr. Priyadarshan would be in charge of the ceremony and I am sure it would be a night to remember for the film lovers of Kozhikode.” The Kozhikode Beach would most probably be the venue.
This year's State films were announced in May. Saleem Ahammad's debut film ‘Adaminte Makan' was adjudged the best film; it also won the best actor award for Salim Kumar. Kavya Madhavan won the award for the best actress for ‘Gaddama'.
‘Not just for capital'
The Minister said conducting the ceremony outside Thiruvananthapuram was just one of the steps to extend the activities of the Academy across the State. “Somehow, there is a feeling that the Academy functions just for Thiruvananthpauram. I want to change that perception,” he said. “So I decided to introduce a travelling theatre; it will be on road soon. It will be an air-conditioned theatre on a luxury bus. It will travel to places across the State and screen classic films, free of cost. The bus will stay at one place for five days, during which 15 films will be screened. We will conduct these mini film festivals jointly with local film societies.”
