The countdown begins for the 10th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) with great expectations. Film buffs can watch over 160 films for a week from February 22 to March 1.
They can watch cream of films from across the globe including; Loveless by Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia), On the Beach at Night Alone by Hong Sangsoo (Republic Korea), Beauty and the Dogs by Kaouther Ben Hania, Radiance by Naomi Kawase (Japan/France), The Square by Ruben Ostlund (Sweden), A Fantastic Woman by Sebastian Lelio (Chile), Djam by Tony Gatlif (Greece), Western by Valeska Griseback (Germany/Bulgaria).
There will be five films of Aleksey Balabanov of Russia including Brother, Morphine, Of Freaks And Men, War, Cargo 200 in the Retrospective section. Though an art house film, Balabanov gained mainstream popularity with the crime dramas such as Brat and Brat 2. Balabanov is known for his films such as Cargo 200 and Morphine shot successive in 2007 and 2008, are being screened in this edition.
Another interesting feature of Retrospective section is five films of Sumithra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar. These film makers from Marathi cinema have so far made 14 feature films, besides 50 short films and won various national and international awards. The Possession, A Cup of Tea, Devrai, Guardian Spirit of the House, Astu-Sobe it etc. will be screened. Their films have strong underlying message of social reform, while being lively narratives. Of course, Kannada's own N. Lakshminarayan's best films including, Naandi, Uyyale, Abachurina Post Office and Bettada Hoovu will be screened in this section.
Films buffs can select best among the 68 films in the world cinema section, 12 in The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) section. Quality seekers can be rest assured of quality, as a team of film critics and experts including Saibal Chatterjee, former editor Outlook Krishna Prasad and others have selected best among the 800 entries, according to N. Vidya Shankar, Artistic Director BIFFes. Under the Unsung Incredible India section, films from little known dialects such as Tulu, Kurmali, Pahari, Braj will be screened.
For the lovers of biopics, there will be a separate section, where they can watch films on legendary film maker Jean-Luc Godard - a pioneer of the 60s French New Wave cinema movement, Nabendu Ghosh, an acclaimed Indian author in Bengali literature, and screenwriter, Karl Marx, Tamil littérateur Ashok Mitran and on the first Indian woman Medical Practitioner Dr. Rukmabhai.
Human Rights and Social Justice is the theme of this edition of festival and renowned documentary film makers Reena Mohan and Vinod Raja, in association with acclaimed cinematographer G.S. Bhaskar have curated films for this section. Special homage is being paid to documentary film maker Chalam Bennurkar and writer, journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh.
In it attempt to remember classic BIFFes has chosen Samskara by Pattabhirama Reddy. Mr. Cowan, the cinematographer of the film, will also deliver V.K. Murthy memorial lecture.
There will be screen writing workshop for the students and practitioners of cinema by Claire Dobbin, international script mentor and Chairman, Melbourne International Film Festival.
However, considering the opposition to Padmaavat of Sanjay Leela Bhansali by Rajputs -- despite Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) clearing the film and Supreme Court directing the States to facilitate release -- "a session will be planned to discuss the threat to creative freedom we will invite Chairman CBFC Prasoon Joshi," said artistic director Vidyashankar.
Orion Mall, with 11 screens is a blessing in disguise for the organisers, where films from 60 countries across the globe will be screened from morning till evening. Recently inaugurated 300-seater well equipped Dr. Raj Bhavan auditorium of Karnataka Film Artists' Association Chamarajpet will be an additional venue for this edition. But, screening at Raj Bhavan is for VIPs and international delegates.
With an idea of educating legislators, one of the 11 screen is set aside for them to watch films and get sensitised about the social issues. Homage will be paid to Parvathamma Rajkumar, R. N. Sudarshan, Kashinath, Krishna Kumari, B.V. Radha and Shashi Kapoor. Shashi Kapoor's New Delhi Times by Ramesh Sharma will be screened.
A contigent of foreign delegates including Marc Baschet of France, Claire Dobbin of Australia, Kiril Razlogov and Nina Kochelyaeva of Russia, and others will be at the festival.
