IFFK 2023!

The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) stands as a pivotal event in the realm of world cinema. Established in 1996, this annual festival held in Thiruvananthapuram, India, has earned global acclaim for its celebration of diverse cinematic expressions. IFFK serves as a platform for showcasing independent, innovative, and culturally rich films, transcending geographical boundaries. Filmmakers, artists, and cinephiles converge to appreciate and engage with a curated selection of thought-provoking films that challenge conventional narratives and offer unique perspectives. Beyond being a cinematic extravaganza, IFFK fosters cultural exchange, dialogue, and a shared passion for the art of storytelling on the silver screen. As a melting pot of cinematic brilliance, the festival plays a crucial role in shaping the discourse and evolution of world cinema.

As many as 69 movies will be screened at 14 venues in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, the fourth day of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Out of this, 26 world movies, including four from the International Category (IC) will be screened.

Other movies on the list include Totem by Lila Aviles, six movies from the Malayalam Cinema Today category and four from the Indian Cinema Now category. The first-midnight screening of the festival will take place at Nishagandhi at midnight on Monday with the screening of the cult classic horror movie The Exorcist.

The repeat screening of as many as 41 movies will also be held on Monday. Three films by the IFFK Lifetime Achievement Award winner Krzysztof Zanussi will be screened on Monday. Akaler Sandhane (In Search of Famine) will be screened under the Mrinal Sen Retrospective.

Four movies will be screened as a homage to Innocent, Siddique, Mamukkoya and producer Achani Ravi. Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Vidheyan (The Servile) will be screened in memory of its producer Achani Ravi aka K Ravindranath Nair.

Special news from IFFK 2023: Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Paradise’ lands as an unexpected punch in the gut

Vithanage, a veteran of Sri Lankan cinema, uses the economic crisis as a backdrop to lay out a multi-layered narrative that also touches upon the long-standing racial tensions in the country and the power dynamics between communities and within a relationship.

IFFK TO SCREEN PACKAGE OF ANTI-WAR FILMS

Veteran actor Nana Patekar inaugurated the 28th edition of the IFFK in Thiruvananthapuram on December 8. The festival will come to a close on December 15, after screening 175 movies from 81 different countries.

With a strong political statement, the package of anti-war films is named ‘Decolonising the Mind.’ The festival will also have an open forum to discuss and criticise the movies screened. On the inaugural day, a lifetime achievement award was presented to Polish filmmaker, Krzysztof Zanussi, known for his anti-communist stand.

Goodbye Julia directed by Mohamed Kardofani, a Sudanese filmmaker, was the opening film of the festival. Films from diverse backgrounds are being screened and categorised under different heads, including country focus – Cuba, Homage, Indian Cinema Now, International Competition, Malayalam Cinema Today, Masterminds, and Restored Classics, among others.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan opened the festival through a recorded video message since Cabinet ministers are travelling across the state for a public outreach programme.

Popular Cinematographer and SICA member Alagappan film Foot prints on water Directed by Nathalia Shyam was also much appreciated.

CJ Rajkumar

Author/ Cinematographer