IFFK to feature 120 films

Festival to be held from Dec 7 to 13, delegate fee hiked to ₹2,000

The 23rd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) this year will be organised here from December 7 to 13 as a low-key event on a thin budget in the light of the floods that ravaged the State in August. The festival will feature 120 films and is expected to attract 12,000 delegates despite the steep hike in the delegate fee.

Minister for Culture A.K. Balan told reporters here on Wednesday that the delegate fee would be enhanced from ₹650 to ₹2,000 to reduce the dependence on government funds at a time when the State needed resources for post-flood recovery and reconstruction. There would be no free passes but student delegates would get a 50% discount.

The budget for the festival would be kept at ₹3.5 crore, down from ₹6.35 crore last year, and efforts were on to find sponsors. The films would be screened at 12 cinemas in the capital city.

“Despite the difficulties in organising the festival after the devastating floods, we decided to go ahead and ensure the continuity of the event that is part of the international circuit. Besides, cultural events have a big role to play in post-disaster recovery,” the Minister said, adding that the austerity measures would not dilute the content of the seven-day festival.

The 23rd IFFK would feature 14 films in the international competition section but the Country Focus, Contemporary and Homage sections would be dropped. As many as 14 Malayalam films, including those of debutant directors, would be exhibited.

The Indian Cinema section would feature nine films, of which two would be in the competition section.

Mr. Balan said it had been decided to do away with the Lifetime Achievement award this year, though the Competition, FIPRESCI and NETPAC awards would be presented. The international jury would be drawn from South Asian countries to keep costs down.

The cultural programmes, workshop, exhibition, master class and panel discussion which have become part of the IFFK would be dropped from the schedule. However, the Open Forum would continue.

Mr. Balan said the inaugural ceremony would be marked by homage to the flood victims.

The simple valedictory function would feature the presentation of awards followed by screening of the best film.

The government had initially decided to cancel the film festival in the wake of the floods but it had to reconsider the decision following pressure from the film fraternity and cinema lovers.