Two Malayalam films, Zakkariya’s ‘Sudani from Nigeria’ and Lijo Jose Pellissery’s ‘Eee.Ma.Yau’ have been selected for the competition section of the 23rd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) to be held in Thiruvananthapuram from December 7 to 13 this year.
Twelve films will be part of the ‘Malayalam cinema today’ section. Of them, 10 have been directed by debutants. The 12 films in the section are: ‘Oath’, ‘Parava’, ‘Bhayanakam’, ‘Udalazham’, ‘Mayanadi’, ‘Bilathikkuzhal’, ‘Prathibhasam’, ‘Eeda’, ‘Kottayam’, ‘Humans of Someone’, ‘Sleeplessly Yours’ and ‘Ave Maria’.
The films were selected by a panel comprising Sibi Malayil, George Kithu, Farooq Abdul Rahman, Dr T Anitha and Dr V Mohanakrishnan.
Meanwhile, the registration for IFKK will start on November 1. No free delegate passes will be issued this year. Only guests will get free passes.
Minister A K Balan has already announced that the delegate fees this year would be hiked to Rs 2,000. He had also said that the lifetime achievement award would not be presented.
Expenses will be reduced while conducting this year’s festival in view of the floods. While Rs 6 crore was spent for the IFFK last year, the Chalachitra Academy has submitted a proposal for organising the fest at half the amount this time. By increasing the delegate fees to Rs 2,000, an amount of Rs 2 crore could be raised. The number of foreign guests will be reduced and Asian jury and cinemas would be given prominence.
