For a film buff, there is nothing like being at a film festival. You breathe and smell cinema there. And you are truly spoilt for choice.
It is only at a quality festival would you be able to see the best of world, India and regional cinema at one place. For the film fans of Kozhikode, and nearby places, one such festival opens on Friday.
The third Kozhikode International Film Festival (KIFF) promises a collection of some fine films from different parts of the globe. It could well be the best film festival in the city since the European festival organised by the European Union some nine years ago.
“Yes, it has been a while since Kozhikode hosted a festival featuring latest and critically acclaimed films,” K.J. Thomas, festival coordinator, told The Hindu . “This edition of the KIFF is bigger than the last two editions.”
The main highlights of such festivals would be always foreign films. And there are quite a few good ones lined up for the festival here, such as the opening film Warehoused (Mexico), which walked away with the FIPRESCI award at the International Film Festival of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram less than a couple of months ago, Where Are My Shoes (Iran), Sink (South Africa), Knife in the Clear Water (China) and Inner City (Azerbaijan).
Besides those contemporary films, world classics like Ashes and Diamonds (Poland), Motorcycle Diaries (Argentina), The Color of Paradise (Iran), The Psycho (US) and The Great Dictator (US) would also be screened.
Among the new Indian films are Chitrokar (Bengali), Revelations (Tamil), Kaasav (Marathi), Harikatha Prasanga (Kannada) and Lady of the Lake (Manipuri). The Malayalam films to be featured include Munroe Thuruthu (director: P.S. Manu), Aaradi (director Saji Palamel), Ottayal Patha (Satheesh and Santhosh Babusenan), Pathinonnam Sthalam (Ranjith Chittade), Avastha (Baiju Laila Raj), Moonnam Njal Njayarazhcha (T.A. Razaq) and Kathakali (Saijo Kannanaikkal).
“We would also be conducting sessions with some of those Malayalam film directors, in which the audience could interact,” Mr. Thomas said. “More than 900 people have already registered as delegates for the festival; we are hoping for some more. The festival, we hope, will cater particularly to those people in Kozhikode who cannot afford to go to the international festivals in Goa or Thiruvananthapuram.”
The festival is being organised by Kerala Chalachitra Akademi, Aswini Film Society, Bankmen’s Film Society and Federation of Film Societies of India. The films will be screened at the Tagore Centenary Hall and Mananchira Square.
