The tenth edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) took off on a high note on Friday morning with films playing to packed audiences. Barring some initial hiccups with the screening of one film being delayed on account of subtitle issues, the festival went off smoothly through the day.
Serpentine queues to see some of the highly recommended films were a common sight. Friday's schedule was packed with many critically acclaimed films, including Swedish film The Square (about a chief art curator tackling a professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up an important new exhibit); The Insult (a Lebanese film on a trivial fight between a Christian and a Palestinian refugee, which ends up dividing the two communities); and the Palestinian film Wajib (a family drama about a father and his estranged son).
Rajendra Singh Babu, chairman, BIFFes, said that they had sold over 4,000 delegate passes. More than 1,000 passes were issued to guests and dignitaries. But the total number of seats available in Orion Mall, the venue of the festival, is only 3,686. This may pose a problem during the weekend, organisers fear. They have stopped issuing delegate passes.
“As this is the tenth edition of the festival, expectations of people are high. We have got a response much beyond our expectations,” Mr. Babu said.
A few issues that plagued previous editions cropped up this year too. The festival guide was in short supply and many couldn’t get a copy.
Mr. Babu said that some of the initial hiccups will be set right by Saturday morning.
