With just a day left for the 8th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) to end, the organisers are in an introspective mood. The overwhelming feeling is that there is a need for a directorate of film festivals and a fixed calendar of events to ensure success of a large-scale event like this.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the chairman of the organising committee of this edition, has been briefed about the importance of such a system in order to take BIFFes to the world. “He has agreed in principle, but cannot make an official announcement because of the model code of conduct in force now owing to the upcoming byelections and local body polls,” said S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu, director, BIFFes.
Admitting that there were a few organisational issues this time, he said, “Besides a passion for cinema, the methodology of organising the festival is important.”
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However, both Mr. Babu and Jayamala, creative director of BIFFes, are satisfied with the attendance. “The overwhelming response points to the fact that the festival has grown,” said Ms. Jayamala.
According to N. Vidyashankar, artistic director, BIFFes, the long queue to watch a film like Pather Panchali is testimony to the fact that people are coming prepared to watch films. “People are preparing a lot before coming to the event, reading up on the film they want to watch,” he said.
The attendance at master classes conducted by Resul Pookutty, Mani Ratnam, Suhasini Maniratnam and Anil Mehta is proof that besides watching films, cine buffs are equally interested in interacting with the stalwarts of celluloid.
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Pass piracy
Mr. Babu said a few people who had failed to get passes had tried to gain entry using colour photocopies of passes! “This indicates the enthusiasm of the crowds,” he said.