The second edition of Pondicherry International Film Festival started on September 23 Monday. Around 31 films from 12 countries are being screened in the multi media centre of Auroville town hall as well as in Pondicherry University auditorium.
Two world premieres, 'Ashvamithra' by Earthling Kousalya and 'Do I Exist: A Riddle' by Druva Harsh are being screened as a part of the festival in Pondicherry University. Movie lovers from around India flocked at Pondicherry university for PIFF 2019.
A wide variety of independent and regional movies from Marathi, Bengali and Kannada industries, and internationally acclaimed flicks from around the world are being screened from September 23 to September 29.
“ PIFF offers a global creative platform for independent cinema. It gives an opportunity for individuality to maximize the outreach of films, Meghana, the art director of film festival said. “Pondicherry is a melting pot of culture with lot of artistic and cinematic flavors from around the world,” she said.
PIFF is not only an exposition to global cinema. Movie buffs will value and cherish the international experience of watching uncensored flicks free of cost.
'Pickurflick,' a global distribution platform specially curated for Indie cinema is organizing the second edition of PIFF. Pickurflick is collaborating with Pondicherry University’s Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication, Auro Film, Instituto Cervantes, Oyo and Cinema Paradiso for the purpose. 11 Premeires, two World premeires, five Asia Premeires and four Indian Premeires are expected to be screened in the film festival.
The entry to the University's film festival venue is of free cost. At the same time, people have to do a pre-registration in Auroville venue.
Priya Krishnaswamy’s 2019 national award winning ‘Best Tamil Film’ ‘Baaram’ has also being screened in PIFF. The lead actor in the movie, Sugumar Shanmugham, is also a PhD scholar in the department of Performing Arts in Pondicherry University.
The film festival has also reserved time for interaction between audience and the eminent film makers.
“Pondicherry University is a vibrant academic space with very rich diverse background of students. We are collaborating with Media department here, with the department’s support we got a space here in University’s J.N.Auditorium . The presence of enthusiastic students and vibrant volunteers from the University makes PIFF more lively and active,” Abhishek Sinha, the co- founder and CEO of Pickurflick told Onmanorama.
Adhil Hussain, a Bollywood actor was the ambassador of PIFF’s first edition. PIFF 2019 will end on September 29.